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37th  Congress*  I-    HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES.       (Ex.  Doc 


3d  Session. 


I 


{' 


RELATIONS 


HETW  EKN 


THE  UNITED  STATES 


AJ>I> 


NORTHWEST  BRITISH  AMERICA. 


WASHINGTON: 

UOVERNMENT     PRINTING  '  OFFICK. 
1868. 


Is  THB  HoDSi  OF  RsPRKBlMTATiVBS,  Deomber  23,  1862. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Clabk,  from  the  Committee  on  Printing, 
Bmolved,  That  five  tlioueand  copies  of  tlie  letter  of  tlie  Secretary  of  tlie  Treasury,  of 
the  20th  June,  1862,  on  the  subject  of  our  relations  with  Northwest  British  America, 
particularly  the  central  districts  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North  and  the  Sasleatchewan,  be 
printed  for  the  use  of  this  House. 


, 


1^^ 


1862. 

iBury,  of 
America, 
iwan,  be 


I 


Bowen  X-Co  Lifh.  Philnda. 


V 


■0     > 


LETTER 


r&oM    4 


THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  TREASURY, 


Ul   AN8WKB  TO 


A  resolution  of  the  House  of  2Qth  May  last  on  the  subject  of  relatims  with 
Northwest  British  America,  ''particularly  the  central  districts  of  the  Red 
River  of  the  North  and  the  Saskatchewan.'^  M-      - 


Treasury  Departmknt,  June  20,  1862. 
Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  a  resolution  adopted 
by  the  Hourte  of  Representatives  on  the  20th  day  of  May,  1862,  in  the  follow- 
ing words: 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  be,  and  he  hereby  is, 
requested  to  communicate  to  this  House  any  information  in  the  possession  of 
his  department  which  he  may  judge  to  be  in  a  form  suitable  for  the  considera- 
tion of  the  House  of  Representatives  upon  the  relations  between  the  United 
States  and  Northwest  British  America,  particularly  ihe  central  districts  of  the 
Red  River  of  the  North  and  the  Saskatchewan." 

In  compliance  with  the  spirit  and  terms  of  this  resolution,  I  have  caused  to 
be  prepared  an  abstract  of  the  reports  of  James  W.  Taylor,  esq.,  special  agent 
of  the  Treasury  Department,  and  of  other  papers  on  file  relating  to  the  subject; 
which  abstract,  together  with  the  papers  referred  to,  I  have  the  honor  to  trans- 
mit herewith. 

With  gi'cat  respect,  yours,  &c., 


S.  P.  CHASE. 


Hon.  Galusha  A.  Grow, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN  THE   UNITED   STATES 


ABSTRACT  OF  THE  REPORTS  OK  JAMKS  W.  TAYIX)R,  HPECIAL  AOKNT,  AND 
OF  OTHER  PAPERH  ON  FILE  IN  THE  TREASURY  DEPARTMENT.  BKARINO 
UPON  THE  RELA'nONH  OF  THE  UMTCD  HTATES  AND  NORTHWEST  BRinSH 
AMERICA,  AND  PARTICULARLY  OF  THE  RED  RIVKR  OK  THE  NORTH  AND 
THE  SASKATCHEWAN. 


' 


KXIM,A\AT()RY    R  KM  ARKS. 

The  inlbnnntion  about  to  bo  ^Wvn  is  compiled  from  tijo  communications  of 
James  W.  Taylor,  eH(j.,  Bpecial  agent  of  thin  <lcpartni(^nt.  It  linH  been  found 
advisable  to  present  the  Bubject-matter  of  this  r(>ply  in  the  form  of  a  synoptical 
index,  arranged  in  clironological  order. 

For  facility  of  reference,  a  compendious  system  of  classification  is  adopted, 
which  it  is  believed  wiirmaterially  abridge  tlie  labor  of  investigation. 

The  original  papers  of  Mr.  Tnylor  are  suffixed  in  the  form  of  an  appendix. 

The  resolution  of  the  House  of  the  20th  ultimo  is  indorsed  in  appendix  as 
Exhibit  A. 

The  instructions  of  this  department  to  Mr.  Taylor  to  proceed  to  the  comple- 
tion of  his  report. — Exhibit  ll 

Mr.  Taylor's  two  letters  of  July  10,  18G1.— Exhibits  C  a,  C  b. 

The  report  of  July  17,  1861,  "in  reference  to  gold  being  found  on  the  Sas- 
katchewan river." — Exhibit  D.  ♦ 

The  letter  of  November  8,  1861,  on  the  "operation  of  the  Canadian  reci- 
procity treaty." — Exhibit  E. 

The  letter  of  December  17,  1861.— Exhibit  F  a. 

"Geographical  Memoii*." — Exhibit  G.  ' 

The  letter  (just  received)  of  June  12. — P^xhibit  F  b. 

The  map  (prepared  especially  for  this  synopsis)  which  will  \n'  found  at  the 
end  of  this  document,  will  show,  inter  alia,  tlie  northernmost  isothermal  limit  of 
wheat,  and  two  projected  railroad  routes  to  the  Pacific,  from  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

A. 

Instnictions  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  to  James  W.  Taylor,  esq., 
to  proceed  with  his  report. — Appendix,  Exhibit  B. 

B.  V 

Exhibit  C  a  and  G  b. 

COMPENDIA  OF  TWO  LETTERS  DATED  JULY  10,  1861. 

A  J— Compendium  of  Mr.    Tayl(/r*s  views  on  the  speedy  organization  by  the 
British   Parliament   {with  the  powerful  co-operation  of  the  Hudson    Bay 
,  Company)  of  what  is  knoion  to  the  English  and  Canadians  as  the  "  Red 
River  and  Saskatchewan  districts  of  British  America." 

I.  The  repe-t  alluded  to  in  A,  to  be  ready  on  or  befor''  the  first  day  of  the 

regular  session  of  Congress. 

II.  Extracts  from  a  late  publication  of  Hon.  Darcy  McGee,  member  of  the 

Canadian  Parliament. — (C  a.) 

1.  "Whil  we  were  interrogating  our  ministers  as  to  the  policy  on  the  Hud- 
son bay  question,  the  Americans  from  St.  Paul  were  steaming  down 
to  Fort  Grarry.  It  is  not  the  first  time  that  we  have  received  a  lesson 
1  -  in  enterprise  from  our  republican  neighbors;  to  be  our  leaders  on  our 
own  soil,  though  creditable  to  them,  is  not,  in  this  case,  particularly 
creditable  to  us." 


i 


AM)   NOKTIIWKflT    BRrriHH   AMKRICA. 


r,    AND 
CARINO 

JurrisH 

'II  AND 


itintirt  of 
11  found 
nopticMl 

uloptod,    • 

mlix. 
pndix  an 

comple- 

thc  Sns- 
ian  reci- 


lad  at  the 
,1  limit  of 
Minnesota. 


2.  "T\\v  Red  River,  let  me  observe,  i«  no  inhonpitable  deHort,  repujjjnnnt  to 

\\\('  increnne  of  the  human  race." 
li.  "  I  ii  the  valloyrt  of  t!ie  Saskatchewan  and  Artj^iuiboin,   Proft'HHor   Iliad 

e!*tinmte?«  that  fliere  arc;  above;  11,000,000  acrert  of  arable  land  of  the 

tineht  quality." 

4.  " If  jurttico  were  rven  now  done,  it  would  l»ecnmc  tliu  lUinoirt  or  Iowa 

■  >f  our  futuro  BritlHh  Ainei-ican  nationality." 

5.  •*  And  this  country  in  not  only  valualde  in  itnelf,  but  valuable  for  that  to 

which  it  leadH.  Tlie  distance  from  a  j^iven  point  on  our  nid*;  of  Jjiike 
Superior  to  navipdde  water  on  Frazer  river,  in  Britirth  Columbia,  doe« 
not  exceed  2,000  milcH — about  twice  the  distance  between  Bontou  and 
Chicago.  It  liaH  been  rthown  by  every  explorc^r  how,  with  Homo  inconsid- 
erable aidn  from  tirt,  a  continuous  Hteainboat  navigation  might  bo  obtained 
from  Lal:e  Winnipeg  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  By  theso 
aids,  and  corresponding  improvements  on  the  otlier  sid(!  of  the  mountains, 
Toronto  might  be  brought  within  ten  or  twelve  days  of  British  Co- 
lumbia." 

6.  "  But  there  is  a  more  important  consideration    still,  connected  with  the 

territory;  for  w<'  know  that  through  its  prairies  is  to  be  found  the  short- 
est and  best  railroad  route  t«)  the  Pacific.  Kvery  one  can  understand 
that  the  American  route  from  Western  Kurope  to  Asia,  which  lies  furthest 
to  the  north,  must  be  the  most  din'ct.  Any  one,  glancing  at  a  globe, 
will  see  whcTo  the  46tli  paralhd  leads  the  eye  from  tlu!  heart  of  Germany, 
through  the  Ihitish  channel,  across  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  an^  from 
our  gulf  westward  to  the  Saskatchewan,  to  Vancouver  Island — the  Cuba 
of  tlu!  North  l*acific ;  and  from  Vancouver  to  the  rich  and  populous  archi- 

f»elago  of  Japan.  This  course  was  demonstrated  by  Captain  Synge  to 
)e  2,000  miles  shorter  between  London  and  Hong  Kong  than  any  other 
in  existence.  It  has  but  one  formidable  engineering  difficulty  to  be  over- 
come— an  elevation  of  6,000  feet  abov(!  the  sea-level — in  crossing  the 
Rocky  mountains  into  Briti->h  Columbia."       • 


rlor,  esq., 


Exhibit  Q  b. 

B. — Compendium  of  the  revenue  laws  of   the  district  of  Asainihoia,  jtassed 

March  14,  1861. 


rm  by  the 
hon  Bay 
the  "Red 


ay  of  the 
ler  of  the 

the  Hud- 
ling  down 
1  a  lesson 
irs  on  our 
irticularly 


I.  "  Article  I.  That  all  goods  imported  into  the  district  of  Assiniboia,  from 
all  parts  of  the  British  dominions,  or  from  any  foreign  country,  shall  be  subject 
to  a  levy  of  four  per  cent,  ad  valorem  duty,  to  be  estimated  at  the  price  current 
of  the  original  place  of  export,  London,  or  New  York,  &c.,  excepting  such 
articles  as  shall  be  otherwise  specified.  The  following  shu  '  be  admitted  free 
from  customs  duty." 

I.  Then  follows  a  list  of  thirteen  articles. — (C  b.) 

II.  By  article  IV,  parties  transporting  merchandise  beyond  the  district  of 
Assiniboia,  (which  is  limited  to  the  valleys  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North,  and 
its  principal  tributary,  the  Assiniboin,)  are  exempted  from  the  payment  of  duties 
on  the  execution  of  a  transportation  bond.  "This  provision  embraces  the 
American  outfits  for  the  fur  trade  of  the  Saskatchewan  region,  which  is  already 
attracting  considerable  attention." — (C  b,  4.) 

III.  "  Article  VI.  That  a  duty  of  5s.  per  gallon  be  imposed  upon  all  fer- 
mented and  spirituous  liquors  imported  into  the  settlement,  except  such  as  shall 
be  proved  to  have  been  directly  imported  from  the  United  Kingdom  by  the 
consignee." 


e 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES. 


! 


IV.  The  people  are  disnatistied  with  "article  VI." 
I.  Extracts  from  "Nor'M'estei',"  the  paper  published  at  Fort  Garry,  dated 
April  1,  18GI,  and  April  15,  -«G1 : 

a.  "Observe,  we  do  not  object  to  this  5,?.  impost:  Ave  highly  approve  of 

it;  but  we  maintain  that  this  being  done,  the  admission  free  of  intoxi- 
cating beverages  from  England  cannot  be  defended.  It  is  simply  a 
piece  of  favoritism — an  odious  exhibition  of  selfishness  on  the  part 
of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  a  proof  of  the  subserviency  of 
our  council  to  that  wealthy  corporation.  Wo  protest  against  the  law 
as  it  stands,  and  in  doing  so  we  biit  speak  the  sentiments  of  the  great 
majority  of  the  Red  River  people." 

b.  "The  present  distinction  is  too  marked,  too  Avide,  too  decided  to  ,)e  de- 

fensible on  any  principles  of  honest  legislation." — (C  i.) 

-   V      '  C. 


Exhibit  E. 

A. — Operation  of  Canadian  recijtrocity  treaty. 

I.  Security  of  northeastern  fisheries,  embarrassed  under  vague  and  restrictive 

termsof  treaty  of  1818 — placed  on  a  satisfactory  basis  byreciprocity  treaty. 

II.  Importance  to  the  northwest  of  free  navigation  of  St.  Lawrence,  especially 

as  to  the  transportation  of  grain  to  market,  and  the  movement  of  iron 
and  copper  from  Lake  Superior. 

III.  Canadian  exhibits  of  exports  and  irapoi'ts  for  tlie  year  ending  Decem- 

ber 31,  1860. 
i.  The  total  value  of  imports  into  Canada  from  the  United  States  aloi.e, 

during  the  above-named  year,  was  $17,273  020  ;  more  than  equalled 

her  imports  from  the  rest  of  the  world.     Her  total  importation   was 

$34,447,935.— (E.) 
2.  The  total  value  of  Canadian  produce  and  manufactures  during  1860  was 

>i8,427,968. 

IV.  General  remarks : 

I.Canadian  .and  American  tarift's;  their  respective  changes  since  1854;   no 

ground  for  recrimination. — (E.) 
2.  The  value  and  extent  of  the  Canadian  market  for  all  forms  of  American 

industry,  especially  manufactures  and  agriculture. — (E.) 

D. 


Exhibit  r  tt. 
A. — Dissatisfaction  of  the  Assinihoians  ivith  BritisJt  inadequacy. 

I.  Extracts  from  "Nor'wester,"  the  newspaper  published  at  Selkirk  settlement : 

1.  From  the  "Nor'wester"  of  October  15th  : 

"  The  progress  of  our  republican  neighbors  in  opening  up,  settling,  and  or- 
ganizing new  Territories,  is  something  wonderful.  Idaho,  Nevada,  Dakota, 
and  Chippewa  were  heard  of,  for  the  first  time,  as  names  indicating  im- 
portant geographical  areas  of  the  Noith  American  continent.  Just  before 
these  we  had  Ovegon,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Utah,  and  Washington.  What 
an  array  of  names !  What  amazing  progress  in  occupying  and  settling  a 
wild  unpeopled  country  !•  We  cannot  regard  with  indifference  the  rapid 
march  of  civilization  at  our  very  doors,  *****  while  we,  a  large,  pop» . 


f 


dated 


i 


AND   NORTHWEST   BRITISH   AMERICA.  T 

ulous,  and  well-to-do  community  of  fifty  years'  standing,  are  still  in  swad- 
dlinar  clothes,  imder  a  foster-mother's  patronizing  rule.  Shame  on  the 
British  government  that  this  is  the  case!  How  much  longer  is  it  to  con- 
tifiue?  Are  they  waiting  until  we  make  short  work  of  our  destinies  by 
voting  annexation  to  Minnesota  or  Dakota  ?  or  till  we  take  the  reins  of 
government  with  a  rude  grasp,  and  proclaim  independence  of  both  British 
and  American  rule?  » 

"  One  or  the  other  alternative  will  surely  come  some  day,  unless  a  change 
in  our  governmental  system  tahes  place. 

"We  speak  advisedly  Avhen  we  say  that  the  people  of  Red  River  are  be- 
coming indifferent  to  British  connexion. 
2.  "That  we  shall  not  al  "'ays  smart  under  our  present  mortification  is  most 
certain.  Time  and  the  force  of  circumstances  will  give  us  our  coveted 
status ;  and  we  must  for  the  present  bear  our  humiliation  with  the  best 
grace  possible."         ;  <  -    ?      ^  ^^  ^  ^^     - 

II.  The  "Nor'wester,"  in  spite  of  this  strong  language,  is  hardly  abreast  of  the 

public  dissatisfaction.    The  party  ftivoring  annexation  to  the  United 
States  is  numerous : 

1.  Annexation  to  be  advocated  through  the  press: 

a.  A  new  paper  to  be  started,  which  shall  be  "  uncompromisingly  hostile 

to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company"  and  in  favor  of  " annexation;" 

b.  The  people  can  only  be  quieted  by  speedy  organization  as  a  "  Crown 

Colony;" 

c.  Unless  England  respona,  sha  will  surely  lose  the  colony,  either  by 

revolution  or  "annexation."  . 

III.  In  case  of  war  with  England,  the  competency  of  Minnesota  to  "hold, 

occupy,  and  possess"  the  Red  River  to  Lake  Winnipeg : 

1.  The  defenceless  condition  of  the  valley: 

a.  No  British  troops  at  Fort  Garry;  ■ 

b.  Indians  depredate  with  impunity; 

c.  The  "Nor'wester"   confesses   weakness,  demanding   "a  change"  as 

"  absolutely  necessary." 

2.  Hardihood  of  the  lumbennen  and  laborers  of  Minnesota.  . 

3.  Facilities  for  military  operations : 

a.  Accessibility  by  way  of  the  Minnesota  and  Pacific  railroad  route — 
commonly  known  as  the  "Wood  Road." 

B. — Compendium  of  letter  dated  June  12,  18G2. — (Vide  Exhibit  F  i  of  Ap- 
pendix.) 

I.  Further  extracts  from  "Nor'wester"  of  May  28: 

1.  "  Can  it  be  expected  that  we  should  not  become  Americanized,  whe» 

Britain  shows  perfect  indifference  to  usl" 

2.  "We  have  no  postal  communication  with  any  part  of  the  civilized 

world,  except  through  the  United  States/" 

3.  "Importation  from  American  States  easy;  from  England,  tardy. 

4.  "The  only  decent  route  for  immigrants  through  the  States.     Con- 

sequently, new  settlers  are,  for  the  most  part,  Americans." 

5.  Vicinage  to  the  United  States  promotive  of  disloyalty  to  Britain,  to 

whom  the  Red  Riverites  now  say : 

6.  "Do  something  for  us  at  once,  or  lose  us  forever." 

II.  Victoria  (Vancouver  island)  desires  a  reciprocity  treaty  with  the  United 
Stat«8. 


8 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


"  ■',   ■'■■".'  ■/  ;'■    ,,   E..   ■  ■ 

Exhibit  G,  (May  1,  1862.) 
"OEOaRAPHICAL  MEMOIR  OF  NORTHWEST  BRITISH  AMERICA,     ND  ITS  RELA- 
TIONS TO  THE  REVENUE  AND  COMMERCE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES." 

A. — Introductory  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  embodying  a  histori- 
cal sketch  of -our  relations  with  England  arid  Russia,  and  the  progress  of 
opinion  in  England  relative  to  colonization : 

I.  A 
1822.- 


1822.- 
1824.- 
1825.- 


1844.- 
1846.- 


1846.- 
1848.- 


1849.- 
1857.- 


1857 


chronological  view  compiled  from  the  above  letter: 

Russia  issues  a  "ukase,"  declariug  the  North  Pacific  a  closed  sea  from 
51°  (or  north  end  of  Vancouver  island)  to  49°,  on  Asiatic  coast. — 
(North  latitude.) 

United  States  claiming  as  high  as  54°  40',  resist  the  above,  demanding 
that  American  whalers  should  not  be  excluded  from  the  North  Pacific. 

■Treaty  between  Russia  flnd  the  United  States,  making  54°  40'  the 
boundary,  pnd  declaring  the  Pacific  an  opon  sea. 

■Great  Britain  and  Russia  agree  on  the  following  boundary : 

"  Commencing  in  north  latitude  54°  40',  between  131°  and  133°  west 
longitude,  at  the  southernmost  part  of  Prince  of  Wales  island ;  thence 
proceeds  up  Portland  canal  to  56°  north  latitude,  and  from  the  last- 
mentioned  point  the  line  of  demarcation  shall  follow  the  summit  of  the 
mountains,  parallel  to  the  coast,  as  far  as  the  intersection  of  141°  of 
west  longitude,  and  then  along  that  meridian  line  to  the  Frozen  ocean." 
Aiticle  nine  st&tes  that  whenever  the  summit  of  the  mountains  shall 
exceed  ten  marine  leagues  from  the  ocean,  tbo  line  between  the  British 
possessions  and  the  Russian ,  line  of  coast  shall  be  formed  by  a  line 
parallel  to  the  Avindings  of  the  coast,  and  which  shall  never  exceed 
the  distance  of  ten  marine  leagues  from  the  same. 

-Controversy  with  Great  Britain  as  to  the  northern  boundary  of  Oregon. 

-Prior  to  this  date  Russia  ?ind  England  became  jealous  of  each  other  on 
account  of  the  disposition  of  the  former  to  occupy  California.  Except 
for  the  Mexican  war,  European  intervention  would  probably  have 
appropriated  tho  bay  of  San  Francisco. 

-It  was  during  this  year  that  the  opinion  was  expressed  in  the  British 
House  of  Commons  that  the  whole  country  north  of  the  Columbia  was 
not  worth  <£20,000. 

-Sir  J.  H.  Pelly,  governor  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  thus  expresses 
himself  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Grey : 

"  As  far  as  I  am  concerned,  (and  I  think  the  company  will  concur  if 
any  great  national  benefit  would  be  expected  from  it,)  I  would  be 
willing  to  relinquish  the  whole  of  the  territory  held  under  the  charter 
under  similar  terms  to  those  which  it  is  proposed  the  East  India  Com- 
pany shall  receive  on  the  expiration  of  their  charter,  viz :  securing  the 
proprietors  an  interest  on  their  capital  of  10  per  cent.   .      ^ 

-Minnesota  Territory  organized.  ^ 

-The  people  of  Canada  West  induce  the  British  Parliament  to  institute 
the  inquiry  whether  the  region  in  question  is  adapted  by  fertility  of 
soil,  a  favorable  climate,  and  natural  advantages  of  internal  communi- 
cation for  the  support  of  a  prosperous  colony  of  England, 
uly  31.  The  select  committee  of  the  House  of  Commons,  appointed  to 
consider  the  state  of  those  British  possessions  in  North  America  which 
are  under  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  reported  testimony,  but  made 
no  decided  recommendations.    They  "  apprehend  that  the  districts  on 


I 


AND   NORTHWEST   BRITISH   AMERICA. 


9 


S  RELA- 

3H." 


I  histori-       * 

'     1858.- 

ogress  of 

1858.- 

1858.- 

3ea  from 

coaat. —      ' 

*, 

manding 
1  Pacific. 

1858.- 
1858.- 

3  40'  the 

i 

m    1858.- 

L33°  west 

m 

i;  thence 

I  the  last- 

nit  of  the 

f  141°  of 

jn  ocean." 

ains  shall 

tie  British 

by  a  line 

er  exceed 

m 

f  Oregon. 

other  on 

Except 

- 

ftbly  have 

be  British 

t 

imbia  was 

1858.- 

expresses 

f         ■ 

1858.- 

1  concur  if 

would  be 

.he  charter 

1859. 

[ndia  Corn- 

curing  the 

1859. 

■^    1859. 

to  institute 

'M    1859. 

fertility  of 

1    1861. 

communi- 

M 

ppointed  to 

i  -  ■ 

3rica  which 

1 

,  but  made 

:|        ■»'■'; 

districts  on 

the  Red  River  and  the  Saskatchewan  are  among  those  most  likely  to 
be  desired  for  early  occupation,"  and  deprecate  any  difficulty  between 
the  government  and  the  company.  They  deemed  it  proper  to  ter- 
minate the  connexion  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  with  Vancouver 
island  for  the  advantage  of  that  interesting  colony,  which  would  be 
extended  to  the  main  land  as  soon  as  possible.  British  Columbia, 
they  thought,  suitable  for  a  pemument  settlement. 

—Gold  discovered  on  Frazer  river. 

— Pugct's  sound  assumes  new  importance  on  account  of  the  above  and  the 
California  mines. 

—Sir  Edward  Bulwer  Lytton  proclaims,  in  the  name  of  the  government, 
the  policy  of  continuous  colonies  from  Lake  Superior  to  the  Pacific, 
and  a  highway  across  British  America  as  the  moat  direct  route  from 
London  to  Pekin  and  Jeddo. 

—The  eastern  boundary  of  British  Columbia  fixed  on  Rocky  mountains. 

—Canada  explores  the  route  from  Fort  William,  on  Lake  Superior,  to 
Fort  Garry,  on  Red  River,  and  gives  impressive  summaries  of  the 
natural  resources  of  Lake  Winnipeg  basin. 

—A  report  to  the  New  York  Chamber  of  Commerce  announces  that  the 
region  of  Lake  Winnipeg,  like  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  is  dis- 
tinguished for  the  fertility  of  its  soil,  and  for  the  extent  and  gentle 
slope  of  its  great  plains,  watered  by  rivers  of  great  length,  and  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  steam  navigation. 

"  It  will,  in  all  respects,  compare  favorably  with  some  of  the  most 
densely  peopled  portions  of  Europe.  In  other  words,  it  is  admirably 
fitted  to  become  the  seat  of  a  numerous,  hardy,  and  prosperous  commu- 
nity. It  has  an  area  equal  to  eight  or  ten  first-cLiss  American  States. 
Its  great  river,  the  Saskatchewan,  carries  a  navigable  water-line  to  the 
base  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  the  valley 
of  this  river  may  yet  offer  the  best  route  for  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific. 
The  navigable  waters  of  this  great  subdivision  interlock  with  Ihose  of 
the  Mississippi.  Red  River  of  the  North,  navigable  (in  connexion  with 
Lake  Winnipeg)  for  800  miles  directly  north  and  south,  is  one  of  the 
best  adapted  for  steam  in  the  world,  and  waters  one  of  the  finest 
regions  on  the  continent.  Between  its  headwaters  and  St.  Paul,  Min- 
nesota, a  railroad  is  in  process  of  construction,  which,  when  completed, 
will  open  up  half  a  million  of  square  miles  for  settlement." 

— ^November  3.  Lord  Caernarvon  "  regrets"  the  conduct  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  and  insists  on  a  "decision"  by  the  judicial  committee 
of  the  privy  council. 

— -JProposition  to  Hudson  Bay  Company  to  refer  questions  concerning 
charter  and  territorial  limits  to  judicial  committee  of  privy  council — 
made  and  rejected. 

— Canadian  government  demand  of  England  prompt  adjustment  of  the 
relations,  &c.,  of  the  Red  River  and  Saskatchewan  districts. 

, — Condition  and  prospects  of  English  colonization  in  Northwest  America. 
First  steam  voyage  Fort  Abercrombie  to  Fort  Garry. ., 

. — Minnesota  received  as  a  State. 

, — Railroad  projected  to  Pembina. 

. — Commerce  of  Minnesota  with  Selkirk  and  the  Saskatchewan  doubles  the 
preceding  year. 

"  Cariboo  district"  rapidly  filling  up  with  a  mining  population. 
The  mountain  ranges,  which  are  alike  the  sources  of  the  Columbia, 
the  Frazer,  the  Peace,  the  Athabasca,  and  the  Saskatchewan,  with  an 
average  of  latitude  54°,  of  longitude  120°,  must  inevitably  be  trans- 
formed into  an  active  scene  of  mining  adventure. 


j^ 


I"  \ 


\^. 


J. 


4  ; 


10  RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 

This  will  necessitate  the  prompt  organization  and  settlement  of 
British  America,  that  is,  of  the  plains  of  the  river  basins  converging 
to  Lake  Winnipeg,  and  closely  connected  with  our  northwestern 
States.  .     .      • '. 

Contents  400,000  square  miles.  " 

■   -.1,  . 
Exhibit  G,  G'.  M'. 

CONIINUATIONOP  "GEOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR  OF  NORTHWEST  BRIllSH  AMERICA, 
AND  ITS  RELATIONS  TO  THE  REVENUE  AND  COMMERCg  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES.  •  ■■  ■ 

B.— "  Part  first :   The  physical  geography  of  Northwest  British  America^ — 
(  Vide  map  of  this  synopsis  at  end,  of  document.) 

I.  Isotherm  (northernmost)  of  the  cereals  and  of  animal  grov.th  :* 

1.  Thirty-five  (35°)  the  limit  of  temperature  of  the  north  temperate  zone. 

II.  Climate  of  Pacific  slope.  , 

III.  Climate  and  productions  of  Central  British  America : 

1.  The  Missouri,  the  Mississippi,  and  the  Saskatchewan  "  set  off"  against  the 

Dneiper,  the  Don,  and  the  Volga,  of  Russia,  which  last  water  the  most 
populous  portions  of  that  empire. 

2.  The  American  district  (between  44°  and  51°  N.  L.)  watered  by  the  first 

three  mentioned  rivers  resembles  European  Russia  in  the  following 
particular : 
a.  Our  continental  latitude,  from  44°  to  54°>  represents  the  Russian  tem- 
perate zone,  from  50°  to  57°  N.  L. 

3.  The  northern  shore  of  Lake  Huron  has  the  mean  summer  heat  of  Bor- 

deaux (70°  Fah.,)  and  the  Cumberland  House,  on  the  Saskatchewan, 
exceeds,  in  this  respect,  Brussels  or  Paris. 

4.  Potatoes,  barley,  and  oats  can  be  profitably  cultivated  in  the  Saskatchewan 

district  as  far  as  54°,  and  maize  as  far  up  as  50°  (N.  L.) 

5.  Animals: 

a.  Fur-bearers;  innumerable.  ' 

b.  Cariboo  (reindeer)  from  50°  to  66°.  , 

c.  Laniferentes : 

a*  Rocky  mountain  goat,  from  40°  to  60°. 

b.  Bison  {improperly  called  buffalo-^see  Webster,)  swarm  west  of 
105°  of  longitude  and  pouth  of  60°  of  latitude. 

d.  Lakes  and  streams  abound  in  choicest  fish. 

IV.  The  corresponding  district  of  Russia,  with  the  same   climate,  the  most 

populous  and  flourishing  portion  of  the  empire. 

V.  Itinerary  of  Sir  George  Simpson :  (G.) 

1.  Favorable  description  of  that  river,  "  which  empties  Rainy  lake  into  the 

Lakeof  the  Woods:"  (G.) 

a.  Navigation  easy.  ;  ,  , 

b.  Banks  fertile.  >        ^  / 3'.  ;     ^'   v  • 

2.  Lake  of  the  Woods :  ^  . 

a.  Shores  fertile,  producing  "  wild  rice"  in  abundance. 

b.  Bringing  "  maize  to  perfection." 


I 


i 


'*  Nature  has  qualified  man  to  breathe  an  atmosphere  120<^  above  or  60°  below  zero, 
without  injuiy  to  health. 


AND   NORTHWEST   BRITISH    AMERICA. 


11 


leraent  of 
)nvergiiig 
thwestern 


I 


■hli 


^MEIUCA, 
S  UNITED 


lerica. 


e  zone. 


gainst  the 
•  the  most 

f  the  first 
following 

jsian  tem- 

it  of  Bor- 
atchewan, 

Latchewan 


m  west  of 


the  most 


:e  into  the 


below  zerQ, 


c.  Studded  with  wooded  islands,  exempt  from  frosts,  and  especially 
adapted  to  cultivation:  (G.) 

3.  Red  River  and  Selkirk  settlement :  (G.) 

a.  Soil,  a  black  mould  of  great  depth  and  fertility,  producing  plump 
and  heavy  wheat,  never  less  than  15  to  25  bushels  to  the  acre; 
sometimes  40  bushels. 

h.  Other  grains  in  abundance. 

c.  Beef,  mutton,  and  pork  in  abundance.  > 

d.  Cheese  in  abundance. 

f .  Wool  in  abundance. 

■   J".  Cattle  find  their  food  for  seven  months,  but  are  maintained  on  straw 
from  the  farms  and  hay  cut  on  the  boundless  commons  behind. 

g.  Subject  to  inundations,  however. 

4.  From  Red  River  to  Edmonton  House,  near  latitude  54°  and  longitude 

113°:  (G.) 

a.  Pi'airies  of  green  sward. 

b.  Many  shallow  lakes,  containing  water  only  in  spring,  bearing  tall 

grass,  roses,  hyacinths,  and  tiger  lilies. 

c.  Sand  hills. 

d.  Wooded  hills,  salt  lakes,  wild  fowl. 

5.  Fort  Ellicc,  a  post  of  Hudson  Bay  Company : 

a.  Probable  navigability,  for  steamers,  of  the  Assiniboin  river. 

6.  Butte  aux  Chiens,  (Dog's  Knoll,)  400  fj^et  high : 

a.  Alluvial  soil  of  great  fertiUiy :  (G.) 

7.  Lac  Sale,  (Salt  Lake:)  (G.)  '  „ 

a.  Wild  fowl  in  abundance.  *  . 

h.  Flowery  fields. 

8.  Bow  river,  south  branch  of  the  Saskatchewan : 

a.  This  is  a  considerable  stream,  without  physical  impediment. 

9.  Fort  Carleton,  on  the  Saskatchewan;  latitude  53°,  longitude  108°  west: 

a.  Large  gardens  and  fields  of  potatoes.  . ,  ■  >      • 

b.  Wheat,  often,  however,  destroyed  by  frosts. 

c.  Saskatchewan,  swift  in  current,  navigable  for  boats  for  700  miles  in 

a  direct  line,  biit,  by  the  actual  course  of  the  stream,  nearly  double 
that  distance.  The  only  impediment  to  navigation  is  the  "  Grand 
Rapids." 

d.  Indian  population,  16,730  in  Saskatchewan:  (G.) 

VI.  The  American  valley  of  the  Red  River:  (G.)  ',_ 

1.  Boundaries: 

a.  South  by  Lake  Traverse  and  Otter  Tail  lake. 

b.  North  by  (Pembina  and)  British  possessions. 

c.  East  by  longitude  of  Red  lake. 

d.  West  by  the  longitude  of  Minnewakan,  or  Spirit  lake. 

2.  Area: 

a.  In  latitude,  frraa  about  46°  to  49°. 

i.  In  longitude,  from  95°  30' to  99°.  '    ^ 

3.  The  garden  of  the  northwest  is  a  radius  of  50  miles  around  Otter  Tail 

lake. 

4.  The  Red  River  of  the  North  rises  in  Otter  Tail  lake.        \  ' 

a.  Geology:  (G.)  ■  V     •: 

5.  Dr.  Owen's  geographical  report.     ^'  -' 

VII.  Assiniboia:  (G.)  ^ .  .  ■ 
VIIL  Cumberiand:  (G.)             ■:'-^^'':''''^'-:t-'.- 


w 


•l! 


1- 


5 


If 


iti: 


12 


IX. 


RELATIONS    BETWEEN    THE    UNITED    STATES 


(G.) 


Saskatchewan : 

1.  Area: 

a.  In  latitude  from  49°  to  55°  =  6  degrees. 

b.  Ample  apace  fhr  four  States  size  of  Ohio. 

2.  Compared  with  Ansiniboia: 

a.  Canadian  opinion  unfavorable  to  Saskatchewan. 

b.  Sir  George  Simpson's  favorable.  / 

^3.  Father  De  Smct,  in  his  "Oregon  Missions,"  consisting  of  letters  to  his 
superiors,  in  a  portion  of  his  volume,  narrates  his  explorations  and 
adventures  in  the  Saskatchewan  valleys  of  the  Rocky  mountains. — (G.) 

a.  Bow  and  Red  Deer  rivers : 

a.  Sulphurous  fountains. 

b.  Coal. 

b.  Rocky  Mountain  House,  53°  N.,  115°  W. 

c.  Edmonton  House : 

a.  Streams,  lakes,  prairies,  and  mineral  springs,  numerous, 
b*  Mill-seats  frequent. 

^,  f.   Forests  of  pine,  cypress,  &c. 

5.  Country  capable  of  supporting  a  large  population. 

a.  Soil  produces  barley,  corn,  potatoes,  and  beans. 

/?.  White-fish ;  four  pounds  each. 

y.  Aquatic  birds,  sent  to  the  fort  by  cart-loads. 

6.  Eggs  picked  up  by  thousands  in  the  marshes.  * 

d.  Ivoquois  Indians. 

X.  Athabasca:  (G.)  '         ' 

1.  Boundaries: 

a.  North,  by  Athabasca  lake.  ' 

6.   South,  by  Cumberland  House. 

2.  Climate  same  as  that  of  the  Pacific  coast :  "  ^    ;     - 

a.  In  May  (10th)  the  verdure  of  the  whole  country  exuberant,  and 

buffalo  attended  by  their  young. 

b.  Highly  favorable  opinion  of  Dr.  Richard  King. 

3.  Minerals,  (limestone.) 

4.  Soil,  (fertile.) 

5.  Knickerbocker  Magazine,  October,  1858,  {q.  v.) 

a.  Atlantic  temperature  not  carried  straight  across  to  the  Pacific.     The 

isothermals  deflect  greatly  towards  the  north. — (G.)  / 

b.  Vide  E,  B,  III,  (2  a,  3)  of  this  synopsis. 

c.  Our  Pacific  coast  equals  any  part  of  Western  Europe  in  climate,  soil, 

and  commercial  accessibility. 

d.  The  continental  mass  lying  westward  and  northward  of  Lake  Superior 

is  far  more  valuable  than  the  Interior  in  lower  latitudes  of  Salt  Lake 
and  Upper  New  Mexico! 

e.  The  Hudson  Bay  Company  accused  of  purposely  keeping  it  in  a  state 

of  wilderness.  ,.   _  ,  .  , 

2yu  Vancouver  island :   (G.)  .        ■  -'  ■  -^■ 

1.  General  description: 

a.  Soil  and  face  of  the  country : 
tt.  Fertile;  well  timbered. 

b>  Diversified  by  interesting  mountain  ranges,  with  small  prairies. 
t.  Extensive  coal  fields. 

b.  Excellent  harbors. 

a.  Esquimaux  harbor,  on  which  Victoria  is  situated,  is  equal  to 
San  Francisco. 


'i 


Qm  to  his 
itions  and 
ins. — (G.) 


»rant,  and 


ific.    The 


mate,  Boil, 

}  Superior 
Salt  Lake 

in  a  state 


1  prairies. 
i  equal  to 


AND   NORTHWEST   BRITISH   AMERICA.  13 

I 

e.  Salmon  and  other  excellent  fisheries. 

f.  Climate,  in  winter,  stormy,  with  heavy  rains  in  November  and 

December.  Frosts  occur  in  January,  but  seldom  interrupt 
agriculture.  Vegetation  starts  in  February,  progresses  rapidly 
'  in  March,  fostered  by  alternate  warm  showers  and  sunshine  in 
April  and  May.  Intense  heat  and  drought  often  experienced 
in  June,  July,  and  August. 
b.  Area  (16,200  square  miles)  equal  to  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire 

XII.  Frazer  ard  Thompson  rivers  :  (G.) 

1.  The  valley  of  the  Frazer  adapted  to  colonization : 

«.  Sources  of  Frazer  and  Athabasca  rivers,  separated  by  317' yards 
only.    (Latitude  55°  N.) 

2.  The  valley  of  Thompson  river  one  of  the  most  beautiful  countries  in  the  world. 

b.  Climate  capable  of  producing  all  the  crops  of  England,  and  much 
milder  than  Canada. 

XIII.  Sources  of  the  Columbia : 

1.  Kootanais  or  FlatboAV  Indians  :  (G.) 

a.  Father  De  Smet  gives  a  glowing  sketch  of  the  oval  district  between 

Flatbow  and  Upper  Colimibia  rivers.     Area  20,000  miles. 

a.  Coal  abundant. 

b>  Lead  profusely  scattered  over  surface. 
C.  Silver,  probable. 

b.  Prairie  du  Tabac ;  an  immense  and  delightful  valley. 

a>  Climate  delightful ;  tlie  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  being  seldom 
known. — (G.) 

b.  Country  well  adapted  for  grazing. — (G.) 

XIV.  The  Arctic  districts  :  . 

1.  Areas :  ' 

a.  Vancouver  island 16,  200  square  miles. 

b.  Frazer  and  Thompson  rivers 60,  000       "         " 

(\  Sources  of  the  Columbia 20,  000       "         " 

</.  Athabasca  district 50,000       "         " 

e.  Saskatchewan  district 360, 000       "         " 

2.  Twelve  States  size  of  Ohio .'      306,  200 

XV.  Geology:  (G.) 

1.  From  Lake  Superior  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  crystalline  rocks ;  a  system  gene- 

rally unfavorable  to  agriculture,  although  many  fertile  spots  are  to  be 
found.  Bounded  north  by  Arctic  ocean».  Great  Slave  lake,  and  Lake 
Athabasca. 

2.  Westward  of  above  lakes  and  Lake  Winnipeg,  nearly  to  Rocky  mountains. 

Silurian  and  Devonian  systems  eminently  favorable  to  agriculture : 

a.  Silurian  deposits  range  1,000  miles  east  and  west,  and  500  rifles 

north  and  south,  thence. 

b.  The  Devonian  continuing  to  Arctic  ocean. 

c.  It  is  through  this  part  of  the  territory  that  the  Saskatchewan  and 

Mackenzie  flow. 

3.  One  hundred  miles  east  of  Rocky  mountains  great  coal  bed  commences. 

It  is  sixty  miles  in  width,  and  extends  over  16°  of  latitude  to  the 
Arctic  sea. 

a.  Aluminous  shales  associated  constantly  with — 

b.  Bituminous  formations,  and  ligneous  formations : 


14 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


■■vi-»f.; 


; 


a.  MaHHivc  coalw  extracted  :  (0.) 

M.  LigneouH. 

j9.  Coniferons. 

V  Oonus  "  Pinus."  .   ' 

i.  Dicotyledons  present. — (O.)  • 

f.  In  close  proximity  are  found  fibrous  brown  coal. 

1^.  Earth  coal. 

n.  Conchoidal  brown  coal. 

t.  Trapezoidal  brown  coal, 
b-  Litliological  (?)  characters  of  "  bituminous  slate."  (?) 

4.  A  vast  coal  field  skirts  the  base  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  for  a  very  great 

extent,  and  probably  continues  far  into  the  Arctic  sea. 

5.  Inestimable  importance  of  this  coal  field,  in  connexion  with  working  and 

constructing  a  Pacific  railroad. — (G.) 

XVI.  Mineralogy:  (G.)  ;     ;- 

1.  Hudson  bay:  (G.)  ,   / 

a.  Eastern  shores  contain  lead. 
h.  Western  shores  contain  copper. 

2.  Between  sixtieth  and  sixty-fiftn  parallels,  a  beautiful  piece  of  variegated 

marble  found  on  the  eartli's  surface. 

3.  Banks  of  the  Mackenzie :  (G.) 

a.  Petroleum,  (rock  oil.)  '       v^        v     . 

ft.  Iron. 

c.  Copper.         *   .     •  '  ■    ' 

4.  Bear  Lake  river :  V 

a.  Iron.  .  ' 

b.  Mineral  springs. 

5.  Peace  river :  ; 

a.  Salt  springs. 

6.  Melville  ..iland: 

a.  Flint. 
^  .      h.  Coal.  '  ■ ;'  -"'■'"'„;,,        "      ; 

c.  Iron  stone. 

d.  Madrepore.  '  ' 

e.  Greensand. 

7.  Southampton  island : 

a.  Magnetic  iron  stone.  .^      .     -.y'^ 

8.  Lyon  inlet:  .  v    , 

a.  Epidote.  ,        .  . 

9.  Red  point:  -      -  ^T }  ,.  i  , 

a.  Lapis  oUaris. 

b.  Asbestos. 

10.  Rendezvous  island : 

a.  Rose  quartz.  ■''[^''  -      "']  '  . . 

.  b.  Ledum  palustre. 

c.  Iron  stone.  s 

d.  Graphite. 

11.  Along  most  of  the  beaches: 

a.  A  brilliant  garnet.  ^     -. 

12.  Winter  island : 

a.  Madrepore. 

b.  Steatite,  (soapstone.) 

c.  Asbestos. 

d.  Octynolite. 
13.  Agnew  river:  (G.) 


■'■);.' 


'"■f'-'    ^:    >t 


AND   NORTHWEST   BK1TI8H    AMERICA. 


16 


«.  Copper  ore. 
b.  Agate. 

14.  Elizabeth  harbor: 

a.  Gypsum. 

b.  Rett  marl. 

c.  GarnetB. 

d.  Qnartz : 

a.  Rod  (quartz.) 

b.  Pink  (quartz.) 
C.  Yellow  (quartz.) 

15.  Hill  river: 

a.  Quartz  rockn,  containing — 

a.  Prociou»  gamota. 

b.  Mica  slate. 

16.  Kn'ie  lake: 

a.  Primitive  greenstone,  with — 

b.  Disseminated  iron  pyrites. 

17.  Trout  river:  (G.) 

a.  Magnetic  iron  ore. 

b.  Well-crystallized  precious  garnets. 

18.  Lake  Winnipeg : 

a.  Beautiful  china-like  chert. 

b.  Arenaceous  deposits. 

c.  Argentiferous  rocks. 

19.  Cumberland  House: 

a.  Salt  springs. 

b.  Sulphur  springs. 

c.  Coal.  •/ 

20.  Elk  river:  ,..       ^  , 

a.  Fluid  bitumen. 

21.  Shores  of  Lake  Athabasca :  (G.) 

a.  Plumage  slate,  finest. 

b.  Chlorite  slate,  finest. 

22.  Mouth  of  CoppeiTOine  river : 

a.  Trap. 

b.  Leatt. 

c.  Copper. 

d.  Malachite. 

c.  Chromate  of  iron,  (very  valuable.) 

23.  Rocky  mountains : 

a.  Semi-opal,  resembling  obsidian. 

b.  Plumbago. 

c.  Specular  iron. 

d.  Gold.  - 

24.  Slave  river:  (G.) 

a.  Gypsum.        '  - 

b.  Salt  springs. 

c.  Petroleum. 

d.  Dolomite. 

25.  Coronation  gulf :  (G.) 

a.  Lead  ore. 

26.  Mackenzie:  (G.) 

a.  Iron,  skirted  by — 

b.  Metalliferous  ranges  of  mountains. 


»  .  :      i  -. 


% 


■  .'    '''■  ■ '  l'^ 


:/A     Jk 


,(\^^M.;^,?f 


16 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED  STATES, 


£. 


"CON'nNUATION  OP  OEOOKArHICAL  MEMOIR  OK  NORTHWEST  BRITISH  AMER- 
ICA AND  rre  RELATIONS  TO  THK  REVENUE  AND  COMMERCE  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATFM." 

0. — **Part  second  :   The  hhtory  and  organization  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany,'' (G.) 

I.  Their  charter : 

1.  Dated  May  2,  1670,  (22  C.  II.) 

8.  Prince  llupert,  with  sixteen  otherB,  undertake  an  expedition  to  Hudson 
bay  for  the  discovery  of  a  new  passage  into  the  South  sea,  and  for  ob- 
taining furs,  minerals,  &c. 

3.  Colony  to  be  called  '•  Rupert's  Land." 

4.  Annual  rent — two  elks  and  two  black  beavers,  whenever  the  royal  Charles 

or  any  of  his  successors,  (regnant !)  should  enter  ••  Rupert's  Land." — (G.) 

II.  Act  of  Parliament  to  confirm  charter,  A.  D.  1690  :  •    « 
1.  Act  limited  to  seven  years. 

III.  England's  claim  to  Hudson  bay  founded  upon  a  presumed  discovery  of 

Sir  Henry  Hudson,  A.  D.  1610,  (G.) 

1.  Hudson,  however,  only  sailed  into  the  straits  which  bear  his  name.     There 

he  was  drowned  by  his  mutinous  crew. 

2.  The  French  had  discovered  the  iay  before  that  time. — (Vide  "Charlevoix," 

vol.  1,  p.  476.) 

IV.  Louis  XIII,  in  1626,  granted  a  charter  to  the  "  company  of  New  France, 

called  Canada." 

V.  Rivalry  and  strife  between  the  English  and  French  companies  and  forts.  * 

VI.  Cession  to  France  of  English  forts  by  the  Ryswick  treaty. 

VII.  Treaty  of  Utrecht  gives  England,  for  the  first  time,  undisputed  titlet  o 

"  Hudson  bay." 

VIII.  Canada  ceded  to  England  in  1763.  '    . 

IX.  "Northwest  Company"  organized  at  Montreal  in  1783. 

X.  Union  of  Hudson  Bay  and  Northwest  Companies,  under  the  name  of  "  Hud- 

son Bay  Company,"  in  1821,  (G.) 

XI.  Hudson  D&j  Company  beneficial  to  Minnesota : 

1.  As  a  police  over  the  Indians. 

2.  Hospitable  to  travellers.  • 

3.  Encourages  missions. 

E.      "" 

"GEOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR"— Continued. 

D.— "Pari  third :  Selkirk  settlement ;  its  foundation,  institutions,  and  agricul- 
ture,'' (G.) 

I.  Preface. 

II.  Early  settlement :  (G.) 

1.  In  1805  Lord  Selkirk  (in  order  to  console  Great  Britain  for  her  loss  of  the 

American  colonies)  wrote  a  work  to  prove  the  superiority  of  this  over 
every  part  of  the  United  States,  (G.) 

2.  In  1811  Lord  Selkirk  obtained  from  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  a  grant  of 

this  district. 

3.  In  1812  (autumn)  an  effort  to  colonize  was  prevented  hy,  men  of  the  North- 

west Company  in  disguise  of  Indians. 


AND  NORTHWEST  BRITISH    AMERICA. 


17 


of 


4.  In  1815  another  effort  to  colonize  rendered  abortive  by  the  same  North* 

west  Company,  (O.) 
6.  In  1816  Lord  Selkirk  arrivoH  with  a  military  escort,  and  retriovea  the  for« 

tunes  of  the  colonists. 

6.  In  1817  colony  (again)  broken  up,  tn  consequence  of  scarcity  oi  aceda. 

7.  In  1818  and  1819  crops  were  consumed  by  grasshoppers,  (G.) 

8.  In  1820  and  1821  prosperity  appears  to  dawn  upon  the  Helkirkcrs. 

9.  In  1825  and  1820  numDera  are  aestroyed  by  the  scarcity  of  bison  and  fuel. 

10.  In  1826  flood  of  Red  river  sweeps  away  bams,  dwellings,  &c.,  (G.) 

11.  In  1852  occurs  another  and  a  greater  flood. 

12.  In  1859  gold  is  discovered  at  sources  of  Saskatchewan,  (G.) 

III.  Institutions  of  Selkirk  settlement :  (G.) 

1.  Government: 

a.  Executive  is  vested  in  the  officer  in  command  at  Fort  Garry. 

b.  Legislative,  in  the  clergy. 

c.  Judicial,  in  leading  citizens. 

2.  Religion: 

a.  Catholics,  10,000. 

b.  PrcsbvterianB,  1,000. 

c.  Church  edifices  at  Red  River  numerous. 

3.  Education:  (G.) 

a.  Schools  numerous. 

b.  A  public  library. 

c.  A  newspaper. 

IV.  Climatic  adaptation  to  agriculture :  (G.) 

1.  Very  cold;  but  annual  mean  temperature  higher  than  same  parallel  in 

western  Europe. 
a.  The  excessive  cold  of  five  winter  months  reduces  the  annual  mean. 

2.  It  has,  elsewhere,  already  been  stated  that  vegetation  is  rapid  in  the  suit- 

able seasons. 

3.  Red  River  winter  nearly  as  mild  as  St.  Paul's. 

a.  Atmosphere  clear  and  dry. 

b.  Indians  camp  out  in  winter  under  Buffalo  skins ;  horses  rur  at  large 

and  fatten  in  winter. 

4.  Red  River  spring: 

a.  Opens  same  time  as  St.  Paul's,  viz :  April  and  May. 

b.  The  transition  from  Winter  to  spring  abrupt. 

5.  Red  River  summer: 

a.  Wanner  than  western  Illinois,  western  Wisconsin,  western  Canada, 
and  northern  New  York. 

V.  Agricultural  capacity  of  summer  months :  (G.) 

1.  Wheat  requires  a  mean  temperature  from  62°  to  65°  for  July  and  August. 

2.  Com  requires  less. 

3.  Now  the  mean  temperature  of  Red  River  is  67°  76'. — (Vide  map  of  this 

synopsis  at  end  of  document,  for  northernmost  isotherm  for  wheat,  &c.) 

VI.  Bountiful  summer  rains :  (G.) 

1.  In  the  belt  between  the  Rocky  mountains  and  Red  River  the  mean  rain 

fall  =  6  inches. 

2.  Amply  sufficient,  for  neither  of  the  following  has  more : 

a.  England; 

b.  Pruesia; 

c.  The  Crimea,  or 

d.  Interior  Russia. 

2 


i 


18  RELATIONS   BETWEEN  THE   UNITED  RTATE8 

yil.  RoHultH  of  ngricuUurv  at  Red  River  Bettlemunt :  (0.) 

1.  Iiulinn  com: 

a.  Cultivated  in  Hnmll  garden  patchoM. 

2.  Wheat: 

a.  UcquiroH  for  July  and  August  a  minimum  moan  temperature  of  62'^ 

to  66°. 

b.  The  whole  region  between  Red  River  and  Rocky  mountains  lies  in 

temperature  between  66"  to  (57°. 

c.  Thitf  mean  equnlH  the  most  fertile  districts  of  New  England,  New 

York,  PennMylvuniii,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota. 

d.  Cultivated  plants  yield  their  greatest  product  near  the  northernmost 

limit  of  their  growth. — (G.) 

a.  This  law  applies  especially  to  wheat. — (Vide  map  of  this  synop- 
sis at  cncl  of  document.) 

VI II.  InMtanccs  of  the  wheat  product  of  Red  River; 

1.  Yield,  40  to  60  bushels  per  acre:  (G.) 

a.  Red  River,  say 40  bushels  per  acre. 

h.  Minnesota 20         "  " 

c.  Wisconsin 14        '*  "     , 

d.  Pennsylvania 16        '*  " 

c.  Massachusetts 16         "  " 

IX.  Oats,  barley,  rye,  potatoes: 

1.  At  Red  River  barley  yields  enormous  returns,  (about  65  pounds  per  bushel.) 

2.  The  whole  group  of  subordinate  cereals  follow  wheat,  but  are  less  restricted 

in  their  range,  going  5°  beyond  wheat  in  the  Mackenzie  valley,  towards 
the  Arctic  circle. 

3.  Oats  thrive  well. 

4.  Potatoes  particularly  fine. 

X.  Hay;  this  is  a  great  grazing  country:  (G.) 

1.  In  1856  Red  River  contained  9,253  homed  cattle;  2,799  horses. 

2.  Sheep  healthy  and  productive,  (fleeces  2  to  3^  pounds.) 

CONTINUATION  OF  ••GEOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR  OF  NORTHWEST  BRITISH  AMER- 
ICA, AND  ITS  RELATIONS  TO  THE  REVENUE  AND  COMMERCE  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES." 

E  a.  **  Part  four  tJi:     The  gold  discoveries  of  northwest  British  America,  and 

their  influence:'*  • 

I.  •'  Cariboo  Diggings,"  on  Frazer  river :  (G.) 

II.  The  most  extraordinary  discoveries  are  north  of  latitude  63°,  and  in  the 

average  longitue  of  120°  west  longitude,  (from  meridian  of  Greenwich.) 

III.  Speedy  establishment  of  commercial  relations  eastwardly  along  the  Sas- 

katchewan with  the  Mississippi  and  Lake  Supeiior. 

IV.  Predicted  colonization,  at  an  early  period,  of  the  coast  and  archipelago  in 

same  latitude,  and  quite  to  the  north  of  Vancouver  island.    Already  ex- 
plorations of  Queen  Charlotte's  island  are  progressing :  (G.) 

V.  Great  social  and  industrial  changes  in  northwest  British  America  predicted. 

E  h.  Comvendium  of  a  special  report  in  reference  to  the  discovery  of  gold  on 

the  Saskatchewan  river:  (G.) 

I.  D.  F.  McLaurin,  known  to  be  a  man  of  veracity,  and  T.  M.  Love,  lately  in 
the  employment  of  Mr.  Campbell,  American  minister  for  the  survey  and 


I\ 


F. 


I 
II 

I\ 


Vl 


AND  NORTHWEHT   BRITISH   AMERICA. 


19 


0. 


location  of  tlin  northern  l>ouii(1nry,  Imvo  Hrrivcil  in  St.  Paul  from  tlm 
liradwatorH  of  tlx;  Fraz«'r  rivor,  in  HritiMli  Colutnl)ia.  They  produce  70 
ounc(>H  of  gold  duHt,  all  of  which  waH  found  on  the  weHt  Hide  of  the 
niountainM  ;  hut  they  alHo  annert  that  in  many  plaeeM  on  the  BaMkatuhu- 
wan,  hetween  Fort  Kdmonton  and  the  Uocky  Mountain  IIouhc,  they  buc- 
ceHHfully  pre »H ))«•(■  ted  for  gold,  •*  raiHing  the  color"  frequently,  but  with 
no  return  exceeding  one  cent  to  the  pan,  or  five  dollars  a  day.  8uch 
Wf're  the  indicatiouH,  however,  that  with  their  experi(;nce  on  the  Pacific, 
even  this  niod(Tate  remdt  encoura^eH  MeHrtrw.  Mi'Laurin  and  Love  to 
return  with  a  yeur'H  HU[»pIy  of  provinionH,  having  left  two  conipanieH  on 
the  upper  HaHkatchewan.  They  exprenn  conHueiice  that  an  exteiwive 
auriferouH  n^gion  cxintH  (taet  of  the  llocky  niountainH,  between  49'  and 
55 '  north  latitude.  If  ho,  itn  occupation  by  udventurerH  will  bo  hantened 
by  the  following  circumHtanceH,  "  hitherto  indicated  by  me  in  former 
communicationH,  and  whicit  I  propone  to  more  fully  illuHtrato  in  my 
gen(>ral  report  to  the  dennrtment." — (  Vide  G,  ante.) 
TT.   "  'I'Ijo  Grand  Rapidn  of  tlie  Hankatchewan  an?  no  obatacle  to  navigation." 

III.  I'robable  n'Hults  of  a  gold  f(>ver  in  the  Haakatchewan  region : 

1.  An  act  of  Parliament  organizing  a  crown  colony  northwest  of  MinneHota, 

with  an  inhabitable  an^a  of  300,000  Hijuarc  mileti. 

2.  A  union  of  all  the  Ain(Tiean  provinces  of  England,  having  for  a  prominent 

objjsct  a  common  highway  from  ocean  to  ocean  on  British  territory. 

3.  An  overland  mail  ana  colonization,  j>reliminary  to  a  Pacific  railroad:  ^D.) 

IV.  "  One   thing   is   very    appantnt :    Unhiss  i\u'  English  government   snail 

promptly  respond  to  tlu;  manifest  destiny  of  tin;  great  interior  of  British 
America — the  basin  of  Lake  Winnipeg — the  speedy  Americanization  of 
that  fertile  district  is  inevitable  :  (D.) 


E. 


-f 


Exhibit  G. 

CONCLUSION  OF  "aEOORAPHICAL  MEMOIR  OF  NORTVVEST  BRITISH 

AMERICA,  &c.— (G.) 

F.  "  Tartfijih :  Relations  of  Northwest  British  America  to  the  Unites  States: 

I.   Present  relationr,  those  of  physical  g  igraphy  merely. 
II.   (Anticipated)  ccmmorcial  and  political  results. 

III.  The  communications  through  Hudson  bay  and  Lake  Superior  are  of  dan< 

gerous  navigation  and  limited  duration. 

IV.  Minnesota  route  to  Rocky  mountains :  (G.) 

1.  Railway  to  Red  river. 

2.  Steamers  by  Lake  Winnepeg  and  the  Saskatchewan. 

3.  The  best  and  most  conducive  to  the  prosperity  of  the  Saskatchewan  and 

Selkirk  settlements. 

4.  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  the  present  limit  of  the  United  States  railroad  sys- 

tem ;  thence, 

a.  Steamers  to  St.  Paul ;  thence, 

b.  Land  transportation,  250  miles ;  thence, 

c.  From  Georgetown,  on  Red  River  steamers,  to  Fort  Garry. 

V.   A  London  company  already  organized  to  establish  an  overland  mail :  (G.) 

1.  Steamers  ought  to  be  immediately  constructed  to  ply  to  Fort  Garry,  for 

the  year  1863. 

VI.  "  It  would  be  an  instance  of  well-directed  legislation  for  the  Congress  of 

the  United  States  and  the  British  Parliment  to  unite  in  a  liberal 

subsidy — say  $200,000  by  each  government — for  the  trauBmission 


so 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   IJNITED   STATES 


J   .5  of  n  weekly  mail  from  the  limits  of  navigation  on  the  Mississippi 

'  and  the  British  coast  of  Lake  Superior,  by  an  international  route 

to  the  centres  of  the  gol-l  districts  of  British  Columbia  and  Wash- 
ington Territory." 

1.  St.  Lawrence  and  great  lakes  furnish  an  eloquent  precedent :  (G.) 


Exhibit  A. 

In  the  Housf  op  Representatives,  U.  S.,  May  20,  1862. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  be,  and  hereby  is,  requested 
to  communicate  to  this  House  any  information  in  the  possession  of  his  depart- 
ment which  he  may  judge  to  be  in  a  form  suitable  for  the  consideration  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  upon  the  relations  between  the  United  States  and 
the  Northwest  British  America,  particularly  the  central  district  of  the  Red 
River  of  the  North  and  the  Saskatchewan. 


Exhibit  B. 

Treasury  Department,  March  9,  186L 

Sir  :  In  reply  to  your  communication  of  the  8th  instant,  I  have  to  instruct 
you  to  proceed  to  the  completion  of  the  report  referred  to,  in  regard  to  the  "  re- 
latioiis  of  the  revenue  system  of  the  United  States  to  British  Ameiica,  northwest 
of  Minnesota."  You  will  please  state,  for  the  department's  information,  the 
time  in  which  it  will  probably  be  completed. 

I  am,  <fcc.,  S.  P.  CHASE, 

Secretary  qfth>'  Treasury. 
James  W.  Taylor,  Esq., 

Special  Agent,  Sfc.,  WasJdngtun,  D.  C. 


A- 


Exhibit  C  a. 

Saint  Paul,  July  10,  1861. 

Sir  :  By  a  communication  from  the  Treasury  Department,  dated  March  8, 
1861,  I  was  instinicted  to  proceed  with  a  report  previously  undertaken  upon  the 
relations  of  trade  and  revenue  between  the  United  States  and  the  districts  of 
Central  British  America,  extending  from  Canada  to  the  Rocky  mountains,  and 
to  communicate  to  the  department  the  period  required  for  making  said  report. 

Having  occasion,  in  the  general  discharge  of  the  duties  assigned  to  me,  to 
forward  an  anstract  of  recent  revenue  laws  at  Selkirk,  on  the  Red  river,  I  beg 
leave  to  inform  the  department  that  I  expect  to  present  my  general  report  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  the  regular  session  of  Congress. 

In  preparing  this  paper,  I  desire  the  privilege  of  recapitulating  some  of  the 
contents  of  special  reports  made  by  me  from  time  to  time,  but  which  are  more 
adapted  for  the  information  of  the  department  than  for  publication. 

Having  reason  to  believe  that  what  is  known  to  the  English  and  Canadian 
people  as  the  "  Red  River  and  Saskatchewan  districts  of  British  America"  will 
be  speedily  organized,  with  the  powerful  co-operation  of  th«  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany, as  a  crown  colony  of  England,  and  that  active  measures  for  its  coloniza- 
tion in  the  interest  of  a  continental  confederation  of  the  provinces,  and  k  railroad 


AND  NORTHWEST   BRITISH   AMERICA. 


21 


i 


from  Lake  Superior  to  the  Pacific,  north  of  our  boundary,  will  promptly  follow. 
I  am  Bolicitous  to  present  to  the  American  government  and  people  a  full  and 
satisfactory  compilation  of  the  natural  resources,  present  civil  and  commercial 
organizations,  and  future  relations  of  the  interesting  region  in  question,  with 
which  circumstances  have  made  me  familiar.  Jn  this  connexion,  I  shall  urge 
thpt  no  unnecessary  resti'ictions  shall  be  imposed  upon  the  intercourse,  already 
very  considerable  in  extent,  between  the  States  of  the  northwest  and  this  rising 
dominion  of  England  upon  the  waters  of  Lake  Winnipeg. 

I'hus  animated,  I  am  now  occupied  with  what  will  prove,  if  published,  a 
document  of  300  pages,  and  which  I  shall  submit  to  the  department  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment.  It  will  constitute  the  report  above  referred  to.  I  desire  to 
return  my  acknowledgments  to  the  head  of  the  Treasury  Department  for  the 
opportunity  of  preparing  and  presenting  it  for  his  consideration. 

In  conclusion,  as  some  confirmatiim  of  the  views  often  advanced  by  me  within 
the  last  five  years,  and  which  will  be  elaborated  in  my  forthcoming  report,  I 
here  present  an  extract  from  a  late  publication  of  Hon.  Darcy  McGee,  the 
accomplished  member  of  the  Canadian  parliament  from  Montreal,  who  may  soon 
(judging  from  late  elections)  succeed  to  a  seat  in  the  Canadian  ministry.  Mr. 
McGee  says: 

"  I  have  always  felt  an  active,  living  interest  in  everything  that  concerns 
what  is  usually  called  among  us  •  the  Red  River  country.*  In  the  very  heart 
of  the  continent,  on  a  territory  500,000  square  miles  in  extent,  wheie  Lord 
Selkirk,  holf  a  century  ago,  declared  there  was  field  enough  for  a  population 
of  30,000,000  souls,  the  only  speck  of  settlement  is  som'  7,000  or  8,000  of  our 
fellow-subjects  in  and  about  Fort  Garry.  No  American  community  has  ever 
undergone  a  sterner  apprenticeship  to  fortune,  or  been  so  unwisely  underrated  by 
imperial  and  Canadian  statesmen.  The  greater  part,  if  not  all  that  region  was  an 
integral  part  of  Canada  at  the  conquest,  and  to  Canada  the  people  of  the  Selkirk 
settlement  most  naturally  looked  for  protection  against  the  monopolizing  policy 
of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  It  is  not  creditable  to  us  to  be  forced  to  admit 
that  hitherto  they  have  looked  this  way  :a  vain.  No  Canadian  can  have  read 
with  satisfaction  the  latest  intelligence  from  that  kindred  community ;  no  Cana- 
dian can  learn  with  satisfaction  that  it  was  left  for  the  infant  State  of  Minnesota, 
with  a  census  not  exceedhig  altogether  this  little  island  of  Montreal,  to  do  for 
them  what  they  naturally  expected  from  us;  that  while  we  were  interrogating 
our  ministers  as  to  their  policy  on  the  Hudson  Bay  question,  the  Americans 
from  St.  Paul  were  steaming  down  to  Fort  Garry.  It  is  not  the  first  time  that 
we  have  received  a  lesson  in  enterprise  from  our  republican  neighbors.  To  be 
our  leaders  on  our  own  soil,  though  creditable  to  them,  is  surely  not  in  this  case 
particularly  honorable  to  us. 

"  Thai  Red  River  country,  let  me  observe,  is  no  inhospitable  desert,  repugnant 
to  the  increase  of  the  human  race.  Modern  science  has  exploded  the  ancient 
error  that  climate  is  deten.-ined  by  the  latitude.  The  best  authority  on  the 
climatology  of  our  continent  (Mr.  Lorin  Blodgett)  has  pointed  out  the  existence 
of  a  vast  wedge-shaped  tract,  extending  from  the  47°  to  the  60°  of  northern 
latitude,  10°  of  longitude  deep  at  the  base,  containing  500,000  square  miles  of 
habitable  land,  subject  to  few  and  inconsiderable  variations  of  climate.  This 
author  gives  a  summer  of  ninety-five  days  to  Toronto,  and  of  ninety  days  to 
Cuuiberland  House,  in  54°  north.  Mr.  Simon  Dawson,  from  personal  obeerva- 
tion,  compares  the  climate  of  Fort  Garry  to  that  of  Kingston.  Professor  Hind 
places  its  annual  mean  temperature  at  8°  lower  than  that  of  Toronto,  for  though 
the  fall  of  rain  is  17  inches  more,  the  fall  of  snow  is  33  inches  less,  than  at  Toronto. 
Herds  of  buffalo  winter  in  the  woodland  as  far  north  as  the  60°  parallel ;  Indian 
com  grows  on  both  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan ;  wheat  sown  in  the  valley  of 
the  Red  River  early  in  May  is  gathered  in  by  the  end  of  August.  The  altitude 
and  aspect  of  the  country  nouiish  in  it  a  temperature  which  one  would  n^t 


22 


RELATIONS  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


expect  to  find  so  far  northward.  Blodgett  aeserts  that  spring  opens  almost 
eimultaneously  along  the  vast  plains  from  St.  Paul  to  the  Mackenzie  river ;  and 
assuredly  where  cattle  can  winter  out,  where  the  rivers  are  generally  free  of  ice 
by  the  nrst  week  of  May,  where  w  heat  can  be  grown  *  twenty  years  in  succes- 
sion without  exhausting  the  soil,'  there  must  be  something  wofuUy  wrong  in 
the  system  of  rule  when,  after  fifty  years  of  settlement,  we  find  a  total  popula- 
tion of  less  than  10,000  souls  !  The  lake  and  river  system  of  that  region  are 
almost  as  wonderful  as  our  own.  Lake  Winnipeg  has  an  area  equal  to  Erie, 
and  Lake  Manitohah  nearly  half  that  of  Winnipeg.  In  the  valleys  of  the 
Saskatchewan  and  Assiniboin  Professor  Hind  estimates  that  Jiere  are  above 
11,000,000  acres  'of  arable  land  of  the  first  quality.'  Of  this  rfgion  about  one- 
half  is  prairie  to  one-half  woodland ;  it  is  the  only  extensive  prairie  country 
open  to  us  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  and  if  justice  '.as  even  now  done  it,  it 
would  become  th<3  Illinois  or  Iowa  of  our  future  British-American  nationality. 

"  And  this  country  is  not  only  valuable  in  itself,  but  valuable  for  that  to 
which  it  leads.  The  distance  from  a  given  point  on  our  side  of  Lake  Superior 
to  navigable  water  on  Frazer  river,  in  British  Columbia,  does  not  exceed  2,000 
miles,  about  twice  the  distance  between  Boston  and  Chicago.  It  has  been 
shown  by  every  explorer  how,  with  some  inconsiderable  aids  from  art,  a  con- 
tinuous steamboat  navigation  might  be  obtained  from  Lake  Winnipeg  to  the 
base  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  By  these  aids,  and  corresponding  improvements 
on  the  other  siae  of  the  mountains,  Toronto  might  be  brought  within  ten  or 
twelve  days  of  British  Columbia.  But  there  is  a  more  important  consideration 
still  connected  with  the  territory,  for  we  now  know  that  through  itfa  prairies  is 
to  be  found  the  shortest  and  best  railroad  route  to  the  Pacific.  Every  one  can 
understand  that  the  American  route  from  western  Europe  to  Asia,  which  lie» 
furthest  to  the  north,  must  be  the  most  direct.  Any  one  glancing  at  a  globe  will 
see  where  the  46°  parallel  leads  the  eye,  from  the  heart  of  Germany,  through 
the  British  channel,  across  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  from  our  Gulf  west- 
ward to  the  Saskatchewan,  to  Vancouver's  island,  the  Cuba  of  the  North  Pacific, 
and  from  Vancouver  to  the  rich  and  populous  archipelago  of  Japan.  This  course 
was  demonstrated  by  Captain  Synge  to  be  2,000  miles  shorter  between  London 
and  Hong  Kong  than  any  other  in  existence ;  it  has  but  one  formidable  en^- 
neering  difficulty  to  be  overcome — an  elevation  of  6,000  feet  above  the  sea 
level — ^in  crossing  the  Rocky  mountains  into  British  Columbia.  Such,  at  least, 
is  the  carefully  guarded  statement  of  Mr.  Stevens,  the  late  American  governor 
of  Washington  Territory,  and  such  is  said  to  be  the  result  arrived  at  by  Captain 
Palliser's  more  recent  explorations.  By  a  short  tunnel  at  the  favorable  pass  the 
elevation  may  be  reduced  to  5,000  feet, '  whose  gradients,'  it  has  been  calculated, 
*  need  not  exceed  sixty  feet  per  mile  from  the  head  of  Lake  Superior  to  Puget's 
sound.'  An  elevation  of  5,000  feet  is  not  an  insuperable  obstacle,  as  has  been 
shown  at  Mount  Cenis  and  the  Alleghanies.  (On  the  Philadelphia  and  Pitts- 
burg road,  at  Altoona,  the  gradient  of  96  feet  to  the  mile  has  been  found  prac- 
ticable.) ■  The  name  '  Rocky  mountains'  is  more  formidable  to  the  ear  than  to 
the  engineer ;  as  the  latitude  has  misled  us  with  regard  to  climate,  so  the  altitude 
has  been  overrated  with  regard  to  cost ;  but  the  science  of  this  age,  once  entered 
upon  any  experiment,  will  neither  be  deterred  by  regions  represented  as  unin- 
habitable nor  by  mountains  reputed  to  be  impassable." 

Reppectfully  submitted.  * 

JAMES  W.  TAYLOR. 

Hon.  S.  P.  Chase,  ., ,  ;., 

Secretary  of  tJie  Treasury. 


I 
1( 

tl 

a 

t 


AND  NORTHWEST   BRITISH   AMERICA. 


28 


Exhibit  G  b. 


Saint  Paul,  July  10,  1861. 

Sir  :  I  enclose  (appended  and  marked  A)  an  authentic  copy  of  "  An  act  passed 
by  the  governor  and  council  of  Assiniboia,  March  14,  1861,"  prescribing  a  tariff 
and  revenue  regulations  for  the  Red  River  district  of  Central  British  America. 

Its  leading  features  are  as  follows : 

1.  A  levy  of  four  per  cent,  ad  valorem  duty  upon  all  importations,  whether 
from  England,  the  United  States,  or  elsewhere,  "estimated  at  the  price  cuiTent 
of  the  original  place  of  export,  London,  New  York,"  &c.  Goods  introduced 
from  Chicago  or  Saint  Paul,  it  is  presumed,  would  be  charged  only  at  New 
York  cost. 

2.  Section  one  enumerates  a  liberal  free  list  consisting  of  thirteen  items. 

3.  By  section  six  "  a  duty  of  five  shillings  sterling  per  gallon  is  imposed  upon 
all  fermented  and  spirituous  liquors  imported  into  the  Red  River  settlements, 
except  such  as  shall  be  proved  to  have  been  directly  imported  from  the  United 
Kingdom  by  the  consignee. 

4.  By  section  four,  parties  transporting  merchandise  beyond  the  district  of 
Assiniboia  (which  is  limited  to  the  valleys  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North  and  its 
principal  tributary,  the  Assiniboia)  are  exempted  from  the  payment  of  duties  on 
the  execution  of  a  transportation  bond.  This  provision  embracos  the  American 
outfits  for  the  fur  trade  of  the  Saskatchewan  region,  which  is  already  attracting 
considerable  attention. 

The  regulations  for  the  collection  of  the  revenue  are  ample,  but  do  not  require 
recapitulation. 

This  system  of  revenue  is  now  in  force.  It  is  generally  satisfactory  to  all 
parties ,  interested,  except  the  discrimination  in  favor  of  English  liquors.  I 
append,  marked  B,  so'ne  forcible  criticism  in  this  respect  by  the  Nor^wester 
newspaper,  published  at  Fort  Garry,  the  centre  of  the  Red  River  settlement. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

JAMES  W.  TAYLOR. 

Hon.  S.  P.  Chase, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


•  i 


A. 

Revenue  laws  passed  hy  the  governor  and  council  of  Assiniboia  on  the  }  ith 

March,  1861. 

To  secure  the  more  efficient  and  equitable  collection  of  the  revenue,  it  is — 
Resolved,  I.  That  all  goods  imported  into  the  district  of  Assiniboia  from  any 
part  of  the  British  dominions,  or  from  any  foreign  country,  shall  be  subject  to  a 
levy  of  four  per  cent,  ad  valorem  duty,  to  be  estimated  at  the  price  current  of 
the  original  place  of  export,  London  or  New  York,  &c.,  excepting  such  articles 
as  shall  be  otherwise  specified.  The  following  shall  be  admitted  free  from  cus- 
toms duty,  viz: 

1.  All  iron  and  steel,  cast  or  malleable,  wrought  or  un wrought. 

2.  All  books  and  publications,  whether  imported  for  use  or  merchandise. 

3.  All  scientific  instruments  and  medianical  tools. 

4.  All  agricultural  machines  and  implements. 


24 


RELATIONS  BETWEEN  THE   UNITED  STATES 


5.  All  baggage,  all  apparel  and  uteusik  that  have  been  or  are  in  present  use 
of  the  owners. 

6.  All  seeds,  roots,  or  plants,  tending  to  the  improvement  of  agriculture. 

7.  All  stationery  and  school  slates. 

8.  All  unopened  packages  of  goods  originally  destined  for  parts  not  within 
the  district  of  Assiniboia. 

9.  All  cases,  boxes,  barrels,  bottles,  or  cloth  covering,  which  contain  goods  or 
fluids  of  any  description. 

10.  Moniunental  tablets  or  tombstones. 

11.  AH  grindstones. 

12.  All  skins,  peltries,  parchment,  untanned  leather,  and  all  produce  of  the 
chase  generally. 

13.  All  goods  gratuitously  given,  and  originally  designed  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Indian  missions  of  Rupert's  Land. 

II.  There  shall  be  four  collectors  of  customs,  residing  severally  at  each  ex- 
treme and  middle  of  the  settlement  and  at  White  Horse  Plains,  whose  resi- 
dences shall  be  houses  of  clearance.  A  collector  of  customs  shall  have  power 
to  administer  oaths,  to  search  for  and  seize  contraband  goods,  and  to  prosecute 
defaulters ;  he  shall  have  power  to  call  constables  and  all  loyal  subjects  of  her 
Britannic  Majesty  to  his  aid,  and  all  persons,  not  constables,  so  called  upon, 
shall  be  paid  by  the  collector,  at  the  public  expense,  as  special  constables  extra- 
ordinary, say,  ten  shillings  per  diem.  A  collector  of  customs  shall  have  power 
to  exact  and  receive  payments  of  customs  duty  and  to  give  receipts  in  discharge 
of  the  same.  He  shall,  twice  in  every  month,  pay  into  Uie  hands  of  the  governor, 
who  is  ex  officio  receiver  general,  all  revenues  received  by  him,  together  with  a 
list  of  the  persons  paying,  and  the  value  of  the  goods  on  which  the  duty  has  been 

Eaid.  That  each  collector  shall,  once  every  week,  transmit  to  the  next  clearance 
ouse  a  list  of  all  clearances  made  by  him.  Each  collector  shall  have  an  annual 
salary  of  forty  pounds  sterling,  besides  being  entitled  to  one-fifth  part  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  all  seizures  he  shall  make  or  cause  to  be  made. 

III.  Every  person  bringing  goods  liable  to  duty  into  the  district  of  Assiniboia, 
whether  owner,  agent,  or  conductor,  shall  be  provided  with  an  invoice  or  manifest, 
which  shall  combine,  with  the  name  of  the  consignee,  an  accurate  account  of  the 
quantity  and  prime  cost  of  all  goods  contained  in  any  carriage,  vehicle,  or  vessel, 
or  any  conveyance  whatsoever,  whether  by  land  or  water.  This  invoice  or  mani- 
fest shall  be  attested  by  the  signature  of  the  owner  or  his  representative,  and  on 
arrival  within  the  settlement  it  shall  be  produced  to  the  collector,  who  may  verify 
its  accuracy  by  an  oath  administered  to  the  party  or  by  examination  of  the  goods, 
opening  packages  if  necessary.  On  being  therewith  satisfied  he  shall  exact  pay- 
ment of  the  duty,  or,  at  his  discretion,  accept  a  bond  payable  for  the  amount 
within  a  period  of  not  more  than  three  months,  which  bond  may  be  sued  for  and 
recovered  the  same  as  any  other  contract  debt. 

The  collector,  on  receiving  satisfaction  for  the  duty  as  above  defined,  shall 
write  on  the  back  of  the  manifest  the  words  "  Examined  and  passed,"  attaching 
his  signature  and  the  date  thereof,  and  this  shall  be  held  as  a  sufficient  clearance. 

Be  it  observed  that  in  any  case  where  the  want  of  a  manifest  is  or  has  been 
unavoidable,  the  collector  may  accept  of  the  sworn  declaration  of  the  party  as 
to  the  value  of  the  goods,  or  otherwise  satisfy  himself  of  their  value. 

IV.  Every  owner  or  importer  or  consignee  of  goods  shall,  within  twenty-four 
hours  of  the  arrival  of  such  goods,  exhibit  his  manifest  (if  not  already  cleared) 
to  the  collectors  of  customs,  and  any  owner,  importer,  or  consignee  of  goods 
failing  to  do  so,  shall,  in  addition  to  the  duty,  forfeit  a  sum  of  not  more  than 
fifty  pounds  sterling,  or  less,  at  the  discretion  of  the  court,  which  penalty  may 
be  sued  for  and  recovered  in  the  same  manner  as  a  contract  debt;  and  any 


AND  NORTHWEST  BRITISH   AMERICA. 


n 


package  or  goodB  in  bulk  not  entered  into  any  manifest  shall  be  seized  as  con- 
traband and  forfeited  to  the  Queen,  or  to  the  governor  and  council  acting  in  her 
name ;  and  in  the  event  of  any  person  refusing  to  show  his  invoice  or  manifest, 
or  refusing  tc  pay  the  duty  or  to  give  a  bond  for  the  payment  of  the  same,  the 
collector  shall  be  authorized  to  seize  all  his  goods  as  contraband. 

Any  person  making  a  false  declaration  under  an  oath  administered  by  a  col- 
lector may  be  indicted  for  wilful  perjury. 

Persons  claiming  exemption  from  duty  because  of  their  goods  being  destined 
for  parts  beyond  the  circle  of  Assiniboia  shall  give  a  bond  not  to  dispose  of  any 
such  goods,  nor  open  them,  or  allow  them  to  pass  from  their  possession  within 
the  district,  under  penalty  of  half  the  amount  of  their  invoice,  which  bond  shall 
be  recoverable  in  the  same  manner  as  a  contract  debt. 

Persons  leaving  the  settlenient  with  goods  under  a  bond  shall  call  on  the  last 
collector  of  customs  on  their  route,  for  the  piurpose  of  having  the  said  bond 
cancelled. 

V.  All  goods  liable  for  duty  shall  be  held  as  contraband  if,  under  the  follow- 
ing circumstances,  they  are  unprotected  by  a  clearance : 

1.  If  they  have  been  within  the  premises  of  the  proprietor  or  consignee  for 
more  than  forty-eight  hours. 

2.  If  they  have  been  opened  or  any  way  disposed  of,  or  otherwise  have  passed 
from  the  original  importer  or  consignee. 

3.  If  not  being  liable  for  duty  because  of  their  original  destination  being  be- 
yond the  bounds  of  this  district,  they  shall  have  been  opened  or  disposed  of,  or 
any  way  have  passed  from  the  possession  of  the  original  importer  or  consignee 
within  the  bounds  of  the  district,  all  such  goods,  unless  otherwise  provided  for, 
shall  be  forfeited  to  the  Queen  by  the  governor  and  council  acting  in  her  name. 
All  goods  so  seized  shall  be  deposited  in  the  court-house,  and  afterwards,  at 
authorized  times,  be  sold  by  public  auction  for  the  benefit  of  the  revenue,  saving 
expenses  and  the  rights  of  the  collectors. 

VI.  That  a  duty  of  five  shillings  per  gallon  be  imposed  upon  all  fermented 
and  spirituous  liquors  imported  into  the  settlement,  except  such  as  shall  be 
proved  to  have  been  directly  imported  from  the  United  Kingdom  by  the  con- 
signee. 

The  above  laws  for  regulating  the  collection  of  customs  shall  be  in  force  from 
and  after  the  first  day  of  April  next  ensuing. 

W.  MACTAVISH,  Governor, 


B. 


as 


[From  the  Nor'wester,  (Fort  Garry,)  April  1,  1861  ] 

THE  NEW  LAWS. 

A  great  portion  of  our  present  issue  is  occupied  with  the  doings  of  council. 
We  invite  attention  to  the  report  of  their  proceedings  generally,  but  to  the 
revenue  and  liquor  laws  in  particular.  The  Red  River  people  have  now  the 
result  of  half  a  year's  deliberations — ^for  that  is  the  interval  since  the  matters 
now  decided  were  first  mooted  in  council — ^and  they  have  it,  too,  in  a  very 
acceptable  form,  namely,  printed.  No  manuscript  copies  this  time  to  perplex 
anxious  readers ;  the  new  laws  are  printed,  as  should  always  be  the  case,  and 
they  will  be  widely  circulated  through  the  settlement  in  pamphlet  form  and 
through  the  medium  of  the  Nor'wester.  Extensive  publicity  is  very  important, 
and  the  council  will  receive  due  credit  for  discarding  the  absurd  old  system  of 
giving  a  copy  of  their  resolutions  to  each  magistrate,  and  to  nobody  else.  Under 
such  a  system  not  half  the  people  knew  what  laws  were  passed  by  the  council, 


m 


RELATIONS  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


or  if  ultimately  hearsay  came  to  their  assistance,  it  would  he  so  long  after  that, 
for  aught  they  knew,  the  laws  might  have  heen  amended  or  repealed.     What- 
ever, therefore,  may  be  the  merits  or  demerits  of  the  laws  'per  ae,  let  the  coun 
cillors  receive  credit  for  making  them  known  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  colony. 

Hereafter  we  shall  fully  analyze  these  laws  and  discuss  their  merits;  at  present 
we  must  confine  ourselves  to  what  we  consider  a  very  objectionable  clause  in 
the  revenue  series,  No.  6,  which  imposes  5a.  on  every  gallon  of  liquor  imported 
from  the  States,  but  admits  free  all  liquor  from  England.  The  injustice  of  this 
distinction  will  excite  a  general  feeling  of  indignation,  because  it  bears  on  its 
face  evidence  of  that  secret  but  all-powerful  influence  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  over  the  Red  River  council. 

In  favoring  importations  from  the  mother  country  we  are  but  complying  with 
long-established  usage  and  with  the  dictates  of  patriotism ;  but  this  is  no  suffi- 
cient reason  for  such  a  wholesale,  such  a  sweeping,  distinction  as  the  council 
has  made  in  regard  to  liquor.  To  believe  that  patriotism  prompted  them  to  take 
the  course  they  did  would  require  too  much  faith,  at  the  expense  of  reason  and 
common  sense.  As  a  whole,  the  council  does  not  care  a  sixpence  either  for  the 
manufacturing  interests  or  export  trade  of  Great  Britain,  and,  we  presume,  did 
not  spend  a  thought  about  them  when  framing  this  measure.  Let  us  suppose 
that  they  made  the  distinction  on  the  ground  just  indicated,  namely,  that  the 
liquor  is  British.  We  ask,  then,  why  not  tax  all  American  goods  higher  than 
English  1  Why  limit  the  heavy  duty  to  liquor  ?  Logic  and  consistency  alike 
demand  that  the  principle  be  carried  out ;  but  what  is  the  fact  1  Dry  goods, 
groceries,  and  hardware  come  in  upon  the  same  footing  from  both  countries — 
that  is,  by  paying  four  per  cent,  ad  valorem  duty. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  majority  that  voted  to  levy  this  heavy  impost  on 
American  liquor  did  so  on  the  ground  that  it  injured  the  best  interests  of  the 
community,  we  say  again  that  the  same  reason  called  for  a  check  on  spirits  im- 
ported from  any  quarter  whatsoever.  The  conclusion  must  follow,  if  you  grant 
the  premises. 

ODserre,  we  do  not  object  to  this  5a.  impost ;  we  highly  approve  of  it ;  but 
we  maintain  that  this  being  done,  the  admission  free  of  intoxicating  beverages 
from  England  cannot  be  defended.  It  is  simply  a  piece  of  favoritism — an  odious 
exhibition  of  selfishness  and  self-interest  on  the  part  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company,  and  a  proof  of  the  subserviency  of  our  council  to  that  wealthy  cor- 
poration. We  protest  against  the  law  as  it  stands,  and  in  doing  so  we  but  speak 
the  sentiments  of  the  great  majority  of  the  Red  River  people. 


[From  the  Nor' wester,  April  15.] 
RED  RIVER  COUNCIL. 


The  public  have  now  had  time  to  examine  and  consider  the  recent  enactments 
of  council,  and  we  believe  they  will  agree  with  us  in  thinking  that,  on  the  whole, 
they  are  the  most  thorough  and  comprehensive  passed  for  many  a  day.  The 
councillors  are,  fortunately,  roused  to  the  conviction  that  matters  are  in  an  un- 
satisfactory condition,  and,  bowing  to  the  pressure  of  a  stem  public  opinion, 
they  have  diligently  set  themselves  to  allay  dissatisfaction  by  making  timely 
mcessions.  This  is  so  far  creditable  for  a  non-elective,  irresponsible  council. 
The  new  tariff  is,  to  a  small  extent,  discriminating ;  so  far,  namely,  as  to 
exempt  a  variety  of  articles  from  all  duty  whatsoever.  This  is  a  decided  im- 
provement, and  we  approve  of  it  in  a  twofold  sense— approve  of  the  principle 
of  exemption  in  itself,  and  of  the  actual  exemptions  made.  In  other  words,  the 
council,  in  our  opinion,  have  done  wisely  in  resolving  to  admit  certain  articles 


AND  NORTHWEST    BRITISH  AMERICA. 


27 


duty  free,  and  have  made  a  judicious  selection  of  the  articles  to  be  so  admitted. 
We  would  like  to  have  seen  this  new  svstem  extended  so  as  to  distinguish  be- 
tween various  classes  of  goods ;  but  as  it  requires  time  and  care  to  do  this  well, 
we  must,  meanwhile,  be  satisfied  with  the  instalment  given  us.  A  correspondent 
points  out  section  8  of  the  first  resolution  as  being  as  objectionable  as  the  clause 
against  which  we  protested  in  our  last  number.  He  is  quite  mistaken.  The 
company  cannot  be  expected  to  pay  duty  on  goods  intended  for  the  interior,  if 
such  goods  be  duly  bonded  through,  and  not  opened  or  disposed  of  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  our  council.  This  privilege  is  everywhere  conceded ;  and  although 
the  section  refened  to  was  evidently  framed  for  the  company's  benefit,  there  is 
no  injustice  in  it.  Very  different,  however,  is  their  imposing  5a.  per  gallon  on  liquor 
from  all  foreign  countries,  while  admitting  it  comparatively  free  from  England. 
This  is  an  inexcusable  piece  of  favoritism,  against  which  we,  as  impartial  jour- 
nalists, must  protest.  We  by  no  means  desire  the  5a,  impost  to  be  diminished 
or  cancelled,  but  we  do  desire  to  have  something  imposed  on  British  liquors. 
The  present  distinction  is  too  marked,  too  wide,  too  decided,  to  be  defensible  on 
any  principles  of  honest  legislation. 


Exhibit  D. 

Saint  Paul,  Juli/  17, 1861. 

Sir  :  The  newspapers  at  Saint  Paul  contain  statements  of  the  discovery  of 
gold  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Saskatchewan  river. 

These  rumors  originate  as  follows  :  D.  F.  McLaurin,  formerly  a  citizen  of  Min- 
nesota, and  known  to  be  a  man  of  veracity,  and  T.  M.  Love,  lately  in  the  em- 
ployment of  Mr.  Campbell,  the  American  commissioner  for  the  survey  and  loca- 
tion of  the  northern  boundary,  have  arrived  in  Saint  Paul  from  the  headwaters 
of  the  Frazer  river,  in  British  Columbia.  They  produce  seventy-six  ounces  of 
gold  dust,  all  of  which  was  found  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountain ;  but  they 
also  assert  that  in  many  places  on  the  Saskatchewan,  between  Fort  Edmonton 
and  the  Rocky  Mountain  House,  they  successfully  •'  prospected* '  for  gold, 
"raising  the  color"  frequently,  but  with  no  return  exceeding  one  cent  to  the 
pan,  or  five  dollars  a  day.  Such  were  the  indications,  however,  that  with  their 
experience  on  the  Pacific,  even  this  moderate  result  encourages  Messrs.  McLaurin 
and  Love  to  return  with  a  year's  bupply  of  provisions,  having  left  two  com- 
panies on  the  upper  Saskatchewan.  They  express  confidence  that  an  extensive 
auriferous  region  exists  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  between  latitudes  49 
degrees  and  55  degrees.  If  so,  its  occupation  bv  iadventurers  will  be  hastened 
by  the  following  circumstances  hitherto  indicated  by  me  in  former  communica- 
tions, and  which  I  propose  to  more  fully  illustrate  in  my  general  report  to  the 
department. 

1.  The  eastern  base  of  the  mountains,  including  the  sources  of  the  two  branches 
of  the  Saskatchewan,  is  well  adapted  to  agriculture — far  more  so  than  the  eastern 
Piedmont  in  American  territory. 

2.  The  climate  at  Edmonton  is  milder  in  winter  than  at  Saint  Paul.  The 
Saskatchewan  is  clear  of  ice  in  the  spring  as  soon  as  the  Mississippi  river 
between  St.  Anthony  Falls  and  Galena. 

3.  Steamboat  navigation,  now  established  on  the  Red  River  of  the  North,  can 
readily  be  extended  through  Lake  Winnipeg  and  up  the  Saskatchewan  river 
to  Fort  Edmonton,  the  supposed  eastern  limit  of  the  new  gold  district.  I  have 
collected  and  will  present  ample  evidence  that  the  Grand  Rapids  (so-called)  of 
the  Saskatchewan  is  no  obstacle  to  navigation. 

4.  Full  half  of  the  population  at  Selkirk  settlement — ^farmers,  voyageurs 


-!i 


28 


RELATIONS  BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


Ml! 


huntcrfl — will  promptly  remove  to  the  mountain  districts.  A  late  inundation  at 
Bed  River,  producing  discouragement  in  their  present  homes,  will  stimulate  such 
an  exodus.  The  Minnesota  frontier  will  send  a  considerable  ro-enforceroent. 
Meagre  as  the  present  information  from  the  upper  Saskatchewan  is,  so  much 
can  be  prcdictea  with  certainty. 

I  anticipate,  also,  if  further  explorations  shall  attract  the  attention  of  the  world 
to  the  sources  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  Athabasca  in  the  same  degree  as  in  1858 
to  Frazer  river,  that  the  scale  will  be  decisively  turned  in  favor  of  the  following 
measures,  which  are  even  now  prominent  at  London : 

1.  An  act  of  Parliament,  organizing  a  crown  colony  northwest  of  Minnesota 
with  an  inhabitable  area  of  300,000  square  miles. 

2.  An  union  of  all  the  American  provinces  of  England,  having  for  a  prominent 
object  a  common  highway  from  ocean  to  ocean  on  British  territory. 

3.  An  overland  mail,  to  be  speedily  followed  by  colonization  adequate  to  the 
achievement  and  support  of  a  continental  railroad. 

These  measures  do  not  require  for  their  consummation  a  gold  excitement;  they 
are  in  the  natural  and  inevitable  course  of  events ;  but  a  sudden  transit  of 
thousands  of  people  to  the  region  in  question,  however  stimulated,  would  greatly 
hasten  their  accomplishment. 

One  thing  is  very  apparent :  Unless  the  English  government  shall  promptly 
respond  to  the  manifest  destiny  of  the  great  interior  of  British  America — the 
basin  of  Lake  Winnipeg — the  speedy  Americanization  of  that  fertile  district  is 
inevitable.  The  indispensable  requisites  to  the  integiity  of  British  dominion  on 
this  continent  are  such  action  in  behalf  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  Red  River  dis- 
tricts as  the  Frazer  river  excitement  secured  for  the  area  fronting  on  the  north 
Pacific  three  years  since. 

The  revenue  interests  of  the  United  States  will  be  the  first  to  be  affected  by 
BO  important  a  change  in  the  situation  and  relations  of  Central  British  America. 
I  shall  endeavor  to  keep  the  Treasury  Department  fully  advised  of  all  that  may 
transpire. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

JAMES  W.  TAYLOR. 

Hon.  S.  P.  Chase, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


* 


W 


Exhibit  E. 

Saint  Paul,  November  8,  1861. 

Sir  :  On  the  2d  of  May,  1860, 1  communicated  to  the  Treasury  Department 
some  statistics  and  observations  upon  the  practical  operation  of  the'  treaty  with 
Great  Britain  of  June  5,  1854,  commonly  known  as  the  reciprocity  treaty. 

As  a  supplement  thereto,  I  desire  to  submit  some  further  statistics,  with  the 
same  object,  with  a  few  preliminary  observations. 

I  am  in  no  situation  to  estimate  the  commercial  value  of  the  stipulation  con- 
tained in  the  first  article  of  the  treaty  by  which  we  secured  the  right  of  fishing 
on  the  coast  of  the  British  North  American  provinces,  with  advantages  equal  to 
those  enjoyed  by  British  subjects.  It  is  an  historical  fact,  however,  that  under 
the  convention  of  1818  we  were  in  constant  danger  of  collision  with  England, 
and  our  fishing  interests  were  greatly  embarrassed. 

The  leading  provision  of  the  reciprocity  treaty  certainly  placed  our  north- 
eastern fisheries  in  as  favorable  a  situation  as  could  be  asked— exceeding  even 
the  liberal  stipulations  at  the  peace  of  1783. 

In  behalf  of  the  northwestern  grain  districts,  it  will  be  pertinent  to  refer  to 
events  now  transpiring  as  evidence  of  the  great  practical  value  of  article  four  of 


AND  NORTHWEST   BRITISH  AMERICA. 


29 


^ 


the  treaty  of  1854,  which  eecurPB  to  the  citizens  and  inhabitants  of  the  Unitstl 
States  the  freedom  of  navigation  on  the  river  St.  Lawrence  and  the  canals  of 
Canada,  while  we  yield  to  British  subjects  the  same  right  upon  Luke  Michigan. 
With  the  MiHsissippi  interrupted  by  insurrection,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  rail- 
road in  a  large  degree  unavailable,  the  Pennsylvania  Central  railroad  almost 
exclusively  chartered  by  government,  the  northwest  finds  the  value  of  its  great 
staple  depreciated  by  excessive  freights ;  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  vessels 
of  1,000  tons  burden  will  be  introduced  upon  the  great  lakes  and  the  lower  St. 
Lawrence,  transshipping  through  the  Canadian  canals  in  craft  equal  to  their 
capacity,  and  thus  more  directly  communicate  with  Europe.  Only  with  the  aid 
of  such  agencies  of  transportation  by  sea,  inland  and  ocean,  can  the  cultivation 
of  wheat  be  advantageously  pushed  into  the  vast  areas  of  the  northwest,  which 
nature  has  adapted  by  soil  and  climate  for  the  production  of  that  important 
staple.  We  earnestly  represent  the  injustice  to  this  section,  besides  the  general 
inutility  of  relinquishing  the  largest  liberty  of  the  St.  Lawrence  at  this  critical 
juncture. 

Indeed,  the  time  has  come,  hastened  by  the  wonderful  harvests  of  1860  and 
1861  and  the  scarcity  of  Europe,  which  seems  likely  to  become  chronic,  when 
the  language  of  John  A.  Dix  in  1849  will  be  justified.  "  I  have  no  hesitation," 
said  he,  "  in  predicting  that  vessels  will  be  laden  with  wheat  at  Chicago,  Green 
Bay,  Detroit,  and  Cleveland,  and  unloaded  at  Liverpool.  Ship-owners,  pro- 
ducers, all  will  be  greatly  benefited  by  this  free  commerce,  which  will  have  an 
advantage  in  avoiding  transshipment  between  the  point  of  embarcation  and  the 
sea  or  the  foreign  market." 

The  mineral  wealth  of  Lake  Superior,  particularly  its  south  or  American 
shore,  is  forced  upon  our  attention  in  this  connexion.  The  last  two  years  have 
witnessed  a  production  of  iron  and  copper  which,  with  the  freedom  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  for  the  transportation  of  the  ores,  or  articles  manufactured  from  them, 
may  prove  of  immense  national  importance.  The  rapid  progress  of  these  mines 
is  not  generally  appreciated.  A  new  and  extraordinary  impulse  to  the  com- 
merce of  the  northwest  will  be  thence  derived,  which  will,  however,  greatly 
depend  on  the  freedom  of  the  whole  channel  of  the  river  St  Lawrence. 

It  is  possible  that,  except  for  the  advantages  secured  to  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  in  respect  to  the  eastern  fisheries  and  western  transportation  to 
the  markets  of  the  world,  the  third  article  of  the  treaty  would  not  have  been 
proposed  by  the  President  or  ratified  by  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  That 
article  admits  the  products  enumerated  in  a  schedule  annexed,  being  the  growth 
and  produce  of  the  British  colonies  and  the  United  States,  respectively,  free  of 
duty.  It  is  alleged  that  the  operation  of  this  clause  is  more  advantageous  to 
the  Cttnadians  than  to  the  citizens  of  the  adjacent  States.  Even  if  so,  no  argu- 
ment is  aflforded  against  the  treaty  as  a  whole.  It  was  probably  intended  and 
expected  that  it  would  be  so.  The  removal  of  all  restrictions  previously  exist- 
ing upon  our  fisheries  on  the  Newfoundland  banks  and  the  adjacent  shores,  and 
upon  the  egress  from  the  American  lakes  to  th**  ocean,  were  distinctly  regarded 
by  the  contracting  parties  as  a  consideration  for  some  advantage  to  the  colonists 
in  the  reciprocal  exchanges  authorized  by  the  third  article. 

But  I  fail  to  appreciate  the  correctness  of  the  assertion  that  the  mutual  com- 
merce under  the  treaty  has  been  more  advantageous  to  the  British  provinces 
than  to  the  American  States.  From  the  following  table,  published  in  the  United 
States  Treasury  Report  on  the  Finances  for  1860,  the  experience  of  the  last 
nine  years,  two  prior  and  seven  subsequent  to  the  date  of  the  treaty,  suggest 
an  opposite  conclusion. 


■.  >] 


80 


RELATIONS  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


Statement  exhibiting  the  exports  to  and  the  importtjrom  Canada,  and  other 
British  poesettione  in  North  America,  Jr am  July  1,  1851,  to  June  30,  1860. 


Tears  ending — 


Jnne  30,  18ft8 
18ft3 

18A4 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 

Ijtal  . 


Export!. 


SI0,609,016 
IS, 140, 642 
24,566,860 
27,806,020 
29. 029, 349 
24,262,482 
23,651,727 
28, 154, 174 
14,183,114 


195, 303, 384 


Importt. 


16,110.299 
7,550,718 
8,927,560 
15,136,734 
21,310,421 
22,124,206 
15,806,519 
19,727,551 
18,861,673 


135,566,671 


It  also  appcara,  by  the  official  statement  of  the  Regietcr's  office,  (page  433, 
Report  on  Finances,)  that  $140,393,956  of  the  exports  from  the  United  States 
have  been  the  growth  or  manufacture  of  the  United  States.  Our  exports  during 
the  foregoing  period  have  greatly  exceeded  our  imports  from  British  America ; 
warranting  tlie  inference  that  a  balance  of  trade,  amounting  to  $59,747,713,  has 
been  added  to  the  permanent  wealth  of  the  United  States. 

Upon  the  topic  of  the  practical  operation  of  the  third  article  of  the  treaty,  I 
beg  leave  to  present  the  following  abstracts,  compiled  from  "  Tables  of  the  Trade 
and  Navigation  of  the  United  Provinces  of  Canada"  for  the  year  ending  De- 
cember 31,  1860: 

-. .    "■  ■.  ..-    No.  1.  ■  -    ■  ■•     -:  ■■  ''■■-  -I"' '  ^'  • :;:,  ■<'•• 

General  statement  of  imports  into  Canada  from  the  United  States  during  the 
year  1860,  arranged  to  exhibit  the  operation  of  the  Canadian  tariff. 


Artiolea. 


sPECiFio  Dvrr. 
Whiskey,  18  cents  per  gallon 

^  100  and  30 /wr  cent,  ad  vdortm. 


Gin 

Rum 

Spirits  and  strong  waters,  including  spirits  of  wine  and  alcohol. 

Cordials 

Brandy 


Total  100  and  30  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 
*>  40  and  36  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 


Cigars.. 

Confectionery 

Sugar,  refined,  or  other  sugar  equal  to  refined. 


Total  40  and  35  per  dent,  ad  valorem. 


Value. 


$1,880 

666 

116 

321 

3,809 


31,741 
13,468 
20, j65 


Total. 


$6, 278 


6,781 


66,774 

o  Articles  under  two  rates  of  duty  include  those  affected  by  the  changes  in  the  tariff  on 
1st  of  June. 


AND  NORTHWEST  BRITISH  AMERICA. 
No.  I. ^General  statement  qf  imparta,  ^r.— Continued. 


81 


Articles. 


<*S0  ofMf  %b  per  cent,  ad  wdorm. 


Ala,  beer,  and  porter,  in  caikft 

Ale,  beer,  and  porter,  in  bottles 

Blacking 

Coffee,  Kcound  or  roasted 

OInnainon,  mace,  and  nutmcKS 

Spices,  including  ginger,  pimento,  and  pepper,  ground 

Patent  medicines  and  medicinal  preparotionB , 

Snuff 


Soap 

Starch ][ 

Tobacco,  manufactured 

Molasses • , 

Sugar,  being  neither  roflned,  nor  other  sugar  equal  to  refined, 


Total  30  and  25  per  cent,  ad  valorem.., 
**  30  and  20  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 


Dried  fruits  and  nuts 

Wine  of  all  kinds,  in  wood.. 
Wine  of  all  kinds,  in  bottles. 


Total  30  and  20  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 
25  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 


Manufactures  of  leather. — Boots  and  shoes..... 

Harness  and  saddlery , 

Clothing  or  wearing  apparel,  made  by  hand  or  sewing-machine. 


Total  26  per  cent,  od  valorem 

to  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 

Bagatelle  boards  and  billiard  tables  and  furnishings. , 

Brooms  and  brushes,  of  all  kinds , 

Cabinet  ware  or  furniture , 

Candles,  tallow 

Candles  and  tapers,  other  than  tallow 

Carpets  and  hearthrugs..... .., 

Carriages 

Coach  and  harness  furniture 

Chandeliers,  girandoles,  and  gas  fittings.... 

Chicory 

China  ware,  earthenware,  and  crockery 

Cider 

Clocks 

Cocoa  and  chocolate.... 

Cordage 

Corks 

Cottons 

Drugs,  not  otherwise  specified 

Essences  and  perfumery .., 

Fancy  goods  and  millinery 

Foreign  newspapers 

Fireworks............. 


Value. 


$1,»38 

141 

4,704 

1,383 

11,827 

4,731 

42, 950 

5,748 

11,453 

29, 825 

463, 908 

228,784 

1,410,991 


140,427 
21,687 

12,588 


102, 664 

5,674 

31,602 


6,626 

5,692 
46, 858 

4,272 
12,468 
18,276 
33,367 
16, 994 

2,690 

1,727 
19,068 

2.621 
27,776 

2,042 

24. 322 
9,604 

694,621 
57, 187 
15, 001 
70, 953 
19,926 

10. 323 


Total. 


$2,212,383 


174, 602 


•| 


139,930 


*  Articles  under  two  rates  of  duty  include  those  affected  by  the  changes  in  the  tariff  on 
Ist  of  June. 


82  RELATIONS  BETWEEN  THE   UNITED  STATES 

No.  l.~-Qeneral  itatement  of  imparts,  4iv.— Gontinund. 


Articloi. 


Ounpowdor 

Ouns,  rifleH,  an«l  Are  arniH  uf  all  klDtli . 

OliiM  Hiiti  glaiwwiire 

HatH,  cupn,  and  bonnets 

Hay. 


Hops 

HtMiery 

Inks  of  all  kinds,  except  printing  Ink 

Iron  and  hardware 

Lumlwr  or  plank,  manufavturud 

Leather 

Leather.— Hheep,  calf,  goat,  and  chamois  skins,  dressed 
Linen 


Locomotive  engines  and  railroad  cars 

Macaroni  and  vermicelli 

Manufuctures  of  caoutchouc,  India-rublwr,  or  of  gutta-percha 

Manufactures  of  fur,  or  of  which  fur  is  the  principal  part.... 

Manufactures  of  papier  maohe 

ManufacturfB  of  grass,  osier,  palm  leaf,  straw,  whalebone  or 
willow,  not  elsewhere speclAi'd...... 

Manufactures  of  bone,  shell,  ivory,  hum,  and  pearl 

Manufactures  of  gold,  silver,  or  electro  plate,  argentine, 
albata,  and  German  silver,  and  plated  and  gilded  ware  of 
all  kinds 

Manufactures  of  brass  or  copper 

Manufactures  of  leather,  or  imitation  of  leather 

Manufactures  of  marble ........................... 

Manufactures  of  varnish,  other  than  bright  and  black  ...... 

Manufactures  of  wood,  not  elsewhere  specified 

Mowing,  reaping,  and  threshing  machines...... 

Musical  instruments,  including  musical  boxes  and  clocks  .... 

Mustard 

Other  machinery 

Oil-cloths 

Oils  in  any  way  rectified  or  prepared 

Opium. 


Packages .... 

Paints  and  colors 
Paper, 


Paper-hangings..... 

Parasols  and  umbrellas...... 

Playing  cards 

Pickles  and  sauces 

Preserved  meats,  poultry,  vegetables,  fish,  &o 

Printed,  lithographed,  or  ooppcr-plate  bills,  &c.,  adv  vtising 

pamphlets , 

Silks,  satins,  and  velvets 

Spices,  including  ginger,  pimento,  and  pepper,  unground 

Stationery 

Steam-engines,  other  than  locomotives ....... 

Small  wares 

Tobacco  pipes  ............ .... . .... 

Toys. 


Vinegar 

Woollens — 

Unenumerated  articles. 


Total  20  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 


Value. 


14,491 

3,778 

121,02ft 

286,921 

749 

2A, 663 

Ift.Utfl 

2,014 

647, 09S 

8,787 

144,808 

8,080 

S3, 564 

63,798 

248 

27,685 

18,606 

18 

29,772 
11,075 


18,030 

31,887 

68, 9U6 

3,710 

21,753 

84,211 

8,602 

99,761 

1,098 

138,415 

16.732 

149, 126 

900 

46, 544 

34,456 

18,529 

39,616 

963 

1,567 

1,646 

1,111 

10,292 

37,980 

33, 464 

49,779 

6,015 

'82,022 

1,946 

9,637 

9,229 

326,347 

144, 698 


Total. 


w 


$3,970,106 


,106 


AND   NORTHWEST    URITISH    AMERICA.  33 

No.  \.-—iSi'neral  statement  of  Importn,  ifc. — Ountiniicd. 


Articles. 


Ifi  ptr  cent,  ad  valorem. 


Hook,  iniip,  and  newH  piintlri);  piiper. 

Coffet',  KU'i'ii 

Tctt 


Tutiil  15  per  cunt,  ad  valorem. 


10  ptr  ctiit.  ad  valorem. 

AnchorR,  6  cwt  and  under 

BodkM,  printed,  periodicalH  and  pamphlets,  editiuns  of  which 
are  printed  in  ('anada 

HraHH  in  Itarn,  rodH,  or  Hheetrt .......... 

llraRH  or  copper  wire  and  wire  cloth. 

Copper  in  I)arH,  rodH,  l)()ltM,  or  hlieutH 

Copper,  briiHH,  or  ircu  tubeii,  and  piping  wlien  drawn 

Cotton  candlewick 

Cot  ton  yarn  and  warp ... 

Drain  tiloH  for  agricultural  purposes  ..... 

Engravings  and  prints 

Iron,  Canada  plates  and  lined  plates 

Iron,  galvanized  and  slieot 

Iron,  wire,  nail,  and  spike  rod 

Iron,  bar,  rod,  or  hoop 

Iron,  hoop  or  tire,  for  locomotive  wheelu  bent  and  welded.... 

Iron,  boiler  plate 

Iron,  railroad  bars,  wrought  iron  chairs  and  Kpikes 

Iron,  rolled  plato 

Jewelry  and  watches 

Lead,  in  sbeetn — 

Litharge 

L'icomotive  and  engine  frames,  cranks,  crank  axles,  .aiiway 
car  and  locomotive  axles,  piston  rods,  guide  and  nlido  bars, 
crank  pins,  and  connecting  rods. 

Maps,  charts,  and  atlasses 

Medicinal  roots 

Phosphorus - 

Plaster  of  Paris  and  hydraulic  cement,  ground  and  culcined- 

Red  lead  and  white  lead,  dry - 

Sails,  ready-made - - 

Silk  twist  for  hats,  boots,  and  shoes 

Steamboat  and  mill  shafts  and  cranks,  forged  in  the  rough.. 

Steel,  wrought  or  cast - 

Straw,  Tuscan  and  grass  fancy  plaits 

Spirits  of  turpentine 

l^n,  granulated  or  bar........ - 

Zinc  or  spelter,  in  sheet 


Total  10  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 


FREB  GOODS. 

Acids  of  every  description,  except  vinegar 

Alum  . 

Anatomical  preparations 

Anchors  weighing  over  6  cwt — .- 

Animals. — Horses 

Horned  cattle..... 


Value. 


$2,058 

lor>,8H2 

1,1.^6,  II.') 


7fl 

68,97'. 

1 ,  OOi) 

2,  207 
l.'),!)(ll 
21,05* 
24,379 

120,9(17 

1H2 

10,801 

40,  29(i 

8,170 

4,79(1 

39,553 

6,  8.W 

11,185 

71,750 

70 

125,618 

227 

G,622 


18, I2C 
5,891 
2,784 
1,502 
8,52(; 
2,352 
2,228 
3,409 
3,()53 

17,078 
738 

64,711 
7,277 
5,407 


9,031 

512 

499 

1.S2 

118,5;.0 

07,201 


Total. 


$1,243,383 


1..  » 


700,994 


3 


84 


RELATIONS    BETWEEN    THE    UNITED    STATES 
No.  1. — General  statemcnf  of  imports,  Sfc. — Continued. 


Ai'tlclea. 


Animals.-  Sheep 

Pigs 

Other  ftnimals 

Poultry  ami  fancy  birds. 
Antimony 

Aiiti»iuities,  collections  of 

Argul 


Articles  for  the  public  nses  of  the  province,. 

A.shcs,  peiirl - 

pot .... . .,-.. 

Bark,  l)errie8,  nutd,  vegetables,  woods,  and  drugs,  iwccl  solely 

in  dyeiny 

Bark ,  tanners' 

Bibles,  ttstiiuientH,  prayer  bodks,  and  devotional  book?,  and 

pi intt'd  books  not  elsewhere  ppecified  _ 

Bleaching  powders ... 

Bolting  cloths 

Borax ... 


Bookbinders'  tools  and  implements-.. ..... 

BiistU'S- .., ...... 

Broom  c.irii . ... 

Busts,  Cfists,  and  statues 

Burrstones  and  grindstones,  wrongixt  and  un wrought 

Butter 

Cabinets  of  coins 

Coin  and  bullion . ..... 

(abb  <5,  iron  chain,  over  ^  of  an  inch  m  diameter 

hemp  and  gi  a«H 

raoutcbouc  or  India-rubber  an-d  gutta-percha,  unmanufactured 

Carriages,  vthicles  of  travellers,  &c 

Cement,  marine  or  hydraulic,  unground 

Cheese . ...... . 

Coal  and  coke ... 

Clothing  and  arms  for  Indian  nations. 

Clothing  and  arms  for  military 

Corkwood  or  bark  of  the  corkwood  tree 

Cotton  and  flax  waste ... 

Cotton  and  wool  _ 

Cream  of  tartar,  in  crystals ._ _... 

Diamonds  and  precious  stone* 

DonatiL ns . ... 

Drawings 

Earths,  clays,  sands,  and  ochres .... 

Kggs 

Emery,  glas.^,  and  sandpiper 

Farming  utensils  and  implements,  when  specially  imported 


for  encouragement  of  agricralture. 


Felt  hat  bodies  and  hat  felts. 

Fax,  hemp,  i.nd  tow,  undressed 

Firewood ..... 

Fire-brick  and  clay 

Fish,  fresh _ 

salt . 

oil,  crude 

products  of,  unmanufactured 

Fishing  nets,  seines,  hooks,  lines,  and  twims. 

Fruit,  green 

dried .. 

Furs  and  skins,  pelts  or  t«ils,  undressed . 


$11,210 

S8,488 
3,«G5 
4,070 

a 

870 

15, 1«!9 
18,279 
11,3()3 

43,408 
2,130 

219,704 

884 

10. 303 

170 

1,228 

12,4G6 

63,404 

3, 05S 

15,499 

29, 422 

140 

14.444 

1,409 

83 

117,672 

82,998 

237 

82,959 

304,079 


2,276 

219 

22,987 

25,627 

10,505 

64 

1,211 

8,699 

4,102 

1,075 

4,110 

3,578 

3,792 

87, 106 

38,753 

5,805 

85,886 

53,627 

86,071 

553 

18,968 

241,335 

43, 192 

104, 659 


I 


--% 


'J-t'v  "*Af'V\jj:; 


^  >-' 


AND  NORTHWEST   BRITISH   AMERICA. 

No.  1. — General  statement  of  imports,  Sfc. — Continued. 


36 


Articles. 


Flour  

Oiaios. — Biirlcy  and  rye  ..................  .............. 

Bran  ond  tihorts .. . 

Buckwheat 

Oats 

Bearii)  and  peas . . 

Indian  corn . ...... 

Wheat 

Sago  flour ....... 

Meal  of  the  above  grains ............. 

Gems  and  medals 

Gold  beaters'  brim  moulds,  and  skins 

Grease  and  scraps ... 

Gravels ._ 

Gyjwum  or  plaster  of  Paris,  ground  or  unground,  but  not 
calcined 

Hair,  angola,  goat,  thibet,  horse,  or  mohair,  unmanufactured. 

Hides  and  horns 

Indigo 

Junk  and  oakum - 

Lard  .- - 


Manir  .  graes,  sea  grass,  and  mosses,  for  upholstery  purposes. 

Maniu'es .. ._........... ... 

Marble,  in  blocks  or  slabs,  unpolished .. 

Meats,  fresh,  smoked,  and  salt 

Menageries,  horses,  cattle,  carriages,  and  harnesses  of 

Military  and  naval  stores.... . 

Models . .. ...... ...... 

Musical  instruments  for  military  bands 

Nitre  or  saltpetre 

Oils,  cocoa-nut,  pine,  and  palm,  in  their  crude,  unrectified 

or  natural  state .. 

Ores  of  all  kinds  of  metals 

Packages 

Philosophical  instruments  and  apparatus — globes 

Pig  iron,  pig  lead,  and  pig  copper . 

Pitch  and  tar 

Printing  ink  and  printing  presses....... 

Bags. 


Resin  and  rosin 

Kice . 

Sail  cloth..... . 

Sal  ammoniac,  sal  soda,  soda  ash. 
Salt 


Value. 


I 


$856, 074 

61,787 

1,226 

301 

660 

4,295 

528,630 

2,308,624 

10 

24,787 

408 


Seeds  for  agricultural,  horticultural,  or  manufacturing  pur- 
poses only . 

Settlers'  goods 

Ships'  water  casks  in  use . 

Ships'  blocks,  binnacle  lamps,  bunting,  sail  canvas  Nos.  1  to 
6,  compasses,  cordage,  dead  eyes,  dead  lights,  deck  plugs, 
shackles,  sheaves,  signal  lamps,  travelling  trucks 

Specimens .... ....... 

Slate 


Stone,  unwrought -.-. — 

Stereotype  blocks  for  printing  purposes 

Sulphur  and  brimstone  .. 

Tallow 

Teasels. • 

Timber  and  lumber  of  all  sorts,  unmanufactured 


16,325 
1,085 

9,767 

5,497 

603, 127 

11,460 

10,020 

22,723 

4,524 

9,695 

26,418 

666,991 

1,300 

28 

4,741 

891 

14,626 

43, 322 
11,020 

5,660 

717 

47,610 

10,071 

15,728 

6,965 
30,867 

8,021 
30,420 

9,421 
164,691 

141,895 
258, 660 


11,810 

526 

3,700 

36, 206 

2,591 

1,389 

329,602 

659 

64,782 


Total. 


1 


il 


36  RELATIONS  BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 

No.  1. — General  statement  of  imports,  Sfc. — Continued. 


Articles. 


Tin  and  zinc,  or  spelter,  in  blocks  or  piga .... 

Trees,  plants,  and  shrubs,  bulbs,  and  roots .. 

Treenails — . 

Turpentine,  other  than  spirits  of  turpentine .. 

Tobacco,  unmanufactured.......... ........ 

Type  metal  in  blocks  or  pigs 

Varnish,  bright  and  black,  for  ship  builders...... 

Vegetables....  ........... . 

Wines,  spirits,  and  malt  liquors  for  officers'  mess. 

Wood  of  all  kinds 

Wool 


Total  free  goods. 


Foreign  reprints  of  British  copyright  works,  (subject  to  a 
duty  of  12^  per  cent.,  payable  to  the  imperial  government 
for  tihe  benefit  of  the  copyright  holder.) 


Ghrand  total. 


Value 


$6,894 

37,254 

66 

14 

124,116 

43 

282 

11,363 

689 

10,982 

79,822 


Total. 


$8,740,485 


6,314 


17,273,020 


The  total  value  of  imports  into  Canada  during  the  year  ending  December  31,  1861,  was 
$34,447,935.  The  above  aggregate  from  the  United  States  more  than  equals  the  Canadian 
importations  firom  all  other  countries.  ^ .  ;  w    ,   . 

No.  2. — General  statement  of  the  value  of  Canadian  produce  and  manufactures 
exported  to  the  United  States  during  the  year  1860. 


Articles. 


TUB  HIMK. 


Copper 

Copper  ore... 

Iron  ore .. 

Pig  and  scrap  iron. 
Stone 


Total  produce  of  the  mine 

TBI  FISHEBIES. 


Fish,  dried  and  smoked .............................. 

pickled.......................................... 

fresh ........ .... .......... ....... 

oil 

Eani  or  skins,  the  produce  of  fish  or  creatures  living  in  the  sea. 


Total  produce  of  the  fisheries  . 

THB  FOBEST. 


Value. 


$1,876 

226,836 

34,166 

62,317 

4,343 


1,263 

161,946 

28,600 

4,160 

14 


Ashes,  pot 

pearl.... 
Timber.— Ash . 

Birch  ... 

Elm 

Maple ... 

Oak 


118,107 

64, 660 

1,610 

14 


284 
29,646 


Total. 


$318,637 


186,873 


H 


AND  NORTHWEST  BRITISH    AMERICA. 
No.  2. — General  statement  of  imports,  8fc. — Continued. 


37 


Articles. 


85 

114 
120 


raa 
[an 


res 


. 


Timber.— White  pine 

Bed  pine  ..... .... .... 

Tamarac . ............ 

Walnut 

Baeswood,  butternut,  and  hiclcory. 

Standard  stuveB. . ... .. 

Other  staves 

Battens .......... 

Knees .. ....... 

Scantling  ....... ..... 

Tiaenails... .... 

Deals .. ...... .... 

Dealends 

Plank  and  boards..... 

Spars... ................. 

Masts ............. 

Handspikes  ....... ....... 

Laths  and  lathwood..... 

Firewood , .... 

Shingles 

Railroad  ties 

Oars . . ....... 

Other  woods  ... ... 

Saw  logs ... . ....... 


Total  produce  of  the  forest. 


ANIHAI.S  AND    THUB   FRODUCR. 


i37 


73 


Animals. — Horses......... 

Homed  cattle 

Swine ......... 

Sheep 

Poultry 

Produce  of  animals. — Beef- 
Bacon  and  hams 

Butter 

Beeswax........... 

Cheese . 

Boars'  grease.... 

Eggs 

Hides 

Sheeps'  pelts....... 

Horns  and  hoofs.... 

Bones....... ... 

;    Jv'eathers 

Lard ....... . 

Poik 

Tallow 

\'i,.        Tongues........... 

Honey 

Venison ...... 

Wool 

Furs. — Dressed . 

Undressed 


Total  animals  and  their  produce 

AQBICULTITBAI.    FBODUOTS. 


Barley  and  rye . 
Beans .......... 


Value. 


$105,125 

7 

4,375 

27,240 

9,393 

39,471 

30/408 


11,915 
31,658 


226,817 


3,027,730 
29,980 
22, 078 


12,489 
64, 646 
30, 152 
19,993 
2,092 
61,618 
57,  368 


957,411 

626,897 

203, 559 

223, 633 

36,245 

2,429 

21,571 

376,022 

114 

6,392 

228 

142,488 

55, 180 

106,267 

1,891 

722 

69 

1,823 

323, 686 

1,039 

8 

142 

3,121 

401,894 

734 

64, 347 


1,797,273 
2,883 


Total. 


/• , 


■'  i\ 


$4, 019, 278 


II 


3,657,912 


38  RELATIONS  BETWEEN  THii:  UNITED   STATES 

No.  2. — General  statement  of  imports,  8fc. — Continued. 


Articles. 


Bran 

Flour  

Hay 

Hopa 

Indian  corn. 

Malt 

Meal . 

Oats 

Feas 

Balsam 

Flax 

FJax  seeds.. 
Other  seeds . 
Maple  sugar. 
Fruit,  green. 
Vegetables.. 

Tobacco  

Wheat 


Total  agricultural  products. 


MANUFACTUK' 


Books 

Cotton 

Candles .. 

Furs 

Glass 

Hardware 

India-rubber 

Indian  bark  work 

Leather ....... 

Linen ., 

Machinery 

Musical  instruments. 

Carriages 

Starch 

Straw 

Rags 

Soap 


Sugar  boxes. 


Oil  cake . ... 

Biscuit . 

Wood 

Woollens . 

Qround  plaster  and  lime 

Liquors. — Ale,  beer,  and  cider. 

Whiskey ........ 

Other  spirits  ...... 

Yinegar . .... 


Total  manufactures  . . 

COIN   AKD  BULLION,  VIZ 


Gold... 
Silver.. 
Copper 


Total  coin  and  bullion. 
Other  articles 


Total 


Value. 


1 


$80,.'>lti 

,961,747 

4,987 

7,075 

100,749 

408 

77,547 

,202,959 

268,413 

2,567 

2,584 

5,634 

60,739 

843 

7,011 

8,335 

31 

,421,498 


1,934 
1,322 


1,044 
291 

3,860 

49,845 

303 

4,971 
242 

5,480 

1,020 
14,619 


5,483 
31,855 


51,019 
3,042 


7,607 

966 

10,098 

4,254 

5,189 

1,664 

6 


50 


Total. 


$10,013,799 


206,114 


50 
126,405 

18,427,968 


AND  NORTHWEST   BRITISH  AMERICA. 


39 


No.  3. 


H 


799 


14 


Comparative  statement  of  the  value  of  goods  enumerated  in  tlie  rcciprocitif 
treaty,  being  the  growth  and  produce  of  the  United  States,  and  imported  into 
Canada  during  the  years  1859  and  1860. 


Articleti. 


Animals . 

Ashes. .. 

Bark 

Broom  corn 

Burr  and  grindstones. 

Butter 

Cheese 

Coal 


Cotton  wool. ._ 

Dye  stuffs. _ 

E^g8 

Fish 

Fish  oil, 

Fish,  products  of 

Firewood . 

Fruit,  dried 

Fruit,  undried 

Flax,  hemp,  and  tow,  unmanufactured. 

Flour  

Furs,  skins,  and  tails,  undressed 

Grain  of  all  kinds 

Gypsum 

Hides,  horns,  and  pelts 

Lard .., 

Manures 

Meal 

Meat  of  all  kinds 

Ores  of  metals 

Pitch  and  tar 

Plants  and  shrubs 

Poultry 

Rags 

Rice..... 


Seeds 

Slate 

Stone  and  marble,  un wrought. 

Tallow 

Timber  and  lumber 

Tobacco,  unmanufactured 

Turpentine 

Vegetables 

Wool 


Total. 


Value. 


1869. 


$234 
12 
2 
80 
14 
40 
93 
237 
17 
52 

X 

108 
73 


40 

35 

215 

67 

2,090 

114 

1,709 

11 

250 

33 

12 

125 

GO  I 

2 

8 

24 

1 

3 

18 

82 

12 

49 

309 

97 

146 


fi6 
66 


677 
826 
570 
301 
3H3 
335 
499 
776 
207 
209 
893 
584 
038 


810 
414 
609 
301 
683 
533 
077 
763 
000 
040 
721 
902 
454 
389 
472 
423 
054 
872 
562 
111 
763 
065 
039 
435 
974 


109 
175 


7,106,116 


1860. 


$239,094 

21,64^ 

2,130 

€3,  404 

15,499 

29,422 

82,959 

304,079 

25,627 

43,408 

1,075 

139,413 

86,071 

553 

38,753 

43, 192 

241,33) 

87, 106 

856,074 

104,659 

2,895,533 

9,767 

220,000 

22,723 

9,595 

24,787 

566.991 

11,020 

10,071 

37,254 

4.07!) 

6,  955 

8,021 

141,895 

3,700 

62,623 

829,502 

64,782 

124,115 

14 

11,363 

79,822 


7,069,098 


50 
05 

68 


I  respectfully  submit  a  few  praclical  observations  upon  the  foregoing  table. 
1.  I  anticipate  no  fiu'ther  complaint  upon  the  relative  rates  of  the  Canadian 
and  American  tariffs.     If,  in  1857,  the  American  legislature  sensibly  reduced 


40 


RKLATIONS   liKTWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


11 


tln'  tariff,  it  was  fomul  cxpodicnt,  in  1861,  miitcrially  to  advance  the  duties. 
Ill  tliirt  w«!  folio w(m1  the  Ciinudiau  oxumplo  of  1858-'9.  In  neither  case  exists 
any  Just  f^^round  of  couipliiint.  The  interestH  of  revenue  were  exclusively  cou- 
Hum'd  by  both  (^()V('rnuH'ntri. 

?i.  It  will  Ix!  H('(!ii,  from  the  table  of  Canadian  importations  from  the  United 
StatcB,  that  artic.lcH  valued  at  $8,5.'J2,.'>3.'3  paid  Canadian  duties,  and  consisted 
for  tlio  nu)M  part  of  American  nuinufactures.  Including  a  nearly  equal  amount 
of  iirticlert  admitted  fnse  under  the  reciprocity  treaty,  they  comprise  a  trade 
wliicli  benefitri  almost  every  possible  fonn  of  American  industry. 

.'].  Tlie  ubov(i  is  an  eiiuiiieration  of  our  commercial  relations  with  the  United 
Canadian  provinces.  I  rvi\'r  to  tin;  United  States  treasury  report  upon  com- 
merces and  navip^ation  for  the  year  (sndinj^  June  30,  1860,  for  similar  statistics 
in  rtsBpect  to  other  British  possessions  in  North  America,  of  which  only  New- 
fomidlaiul,  N<!W  Mrunswick,  and  Nova  Scotia  are  included  within  the  provisions 
of  th(f  HH-ijirocity  tvvnty. 

4.  With  the  permission  of  the  department  I  shall  reserve  for  another  com- 
nnujication  tins  subject  of  oiu*  commercial  relations  with  the  territory  northwest 
of  Minnesota,  now  occui)ied  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  with  British 
('oinmbia.  These!  rest  on  a  basis  so  distinct  from  the  trade  and  intercourse  of 
tlu!  lak(!  and  Atlantic  coasts  as  to  suggest  a  separate  discussion, 
llespectfully  submitted. 

JAMES  W.  TAYLOR. 

Hon.  S.  P.  Chase, 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


X  Exhibit  F  a. 

St.  Paul,  December  17,  1861. 

Sir:  1  beg  your  attention  to  the  following  extracts  ivora  ihG  " Nor^ wester  " 
the  newspaper  piinted  at  Selkirk  settlement.  The  italics  are  those  of  the  To- 
ronto Globe. 

[From  the  Nor' wester  of  October  15.] 

"  The  progress  of  oin-  republican  neighbors  in  opening  up,  settling,  and  organ- 
izing new  territorit's  is  something  wonderful.  Idaho,  Nevada,  Dakota,  and 
Chippewa,  W(mt  heard  of  for  the  first  time  as  names  indicating  important  geo- 
grapbical  areas  of  the  North  American  continent.  Just  before  these  we  had 
Oregon,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Utah,  and  Washington.  What  an  array  of  names! 
What  amazing  progress  in  occupying  and  settling  a  wild  unpeopled  country ! 
We  cannot  regard  with  indifference  this  rapid  march  of  civilization  at  our  very 
doors.  The  bonndary  lines  of  Minnesota  and  Dakota  sweep  past  us  at  the  short 
distance  of  but  60  or  70  miles,  and  the  progress  of  settlement  in  those  regions 
must  to  a  great  extent  atl'ect  us  here.  The  first  Dakota  elections  came  off  yes- 
terday fortnight,  and  our  neighboring  communities,  Pembina  and  St.  Joseph, 
have  taken  their  part  in  them.  Messrs.  J.  McFetridge  and  Hugh  S.  Donald- 
eon — both  well  known  here — have  been  candidates.  The  former  ran  for  the 
upper  house  and  the  latter  for  the  house  of  representatives.  Mr.  Donaldson  has 
been  elected  without  opjiosition.  Mr.  McFetridge  is  not  certain  of  his  election, 
as  his  council  district  includes  some  portions  of  southern  Dakota,  where  he 
will  get  no  votes  at  all.  The  total  number  of  votes  polled  at  Pembina  and  St. 
Joseph  was  186.  We  congratulate  our  friend  Mr.  Donaldson  on  his  election,  and 
we  lu>pe  we  may  be  able  to  do  the  same  to  Mr.  McFetridge.  We  have  said 
that  IVmbina  and  St.  Joseph  have,  for  the  first  time,  cast  their  votes.  Auspici- 
ous era  for  them !     Lucky  they  truly  are  to  be  thus  early  enfranchisedr  when 


AND   NORTHWEST    BRITISH   AMERICA. 


41 


we,  a  large,  populous,  and  well-to-do  community  of  50  years  standing,  are  still 
in  swaddling-clothes, . under  a  fostermother's  patronizing  rule!  Shame  on  the 
British  government  that  this  is  the  case !  How  much  longer  is  it  to  continue  1 
Are  they  waiting  till  we  make  short  work  of  our  destinies  hy  voting  annexation 
to  Minne^iota  or  Dakota,  or  till  we  take  the  reins  of  government  with  a  rude 
grasp  and  proclaim  independence  of  both  American  and  British  rule  1  One  or 
other  alternative  will  assuredly  come  some  day,  unless  a  change  in  our  govern- 
mental system  take  place ;  but  why  tempt  such  a  result  by  delay  and  indiffer- 
ence ?  Why  alienate  this  important  community  and  jeopardize  Central  British 
America,  by  making  us  such  nonentities  as  we  are  at  present?  We  speak  ad- 
visedly when  we  say  that  the  people  of  Red  River  are  becoming  indifferent  to 
British  connexion.  They  care  very  little  for  it ;  they  would  bear  a  severance 
without  much  regret.  And  can  they  be  reasonably  blamed  for  this  questionable 
loyalty  ?  Has  anything  been  done  by  the  mother  country  to  retain,  strengthen, 
and  foster  allegiance  to  the  British  crown?  Nothing — literally  nothing.  But 
more  of  this  by  and  by." 


Again ; 


[From  the  Nor'westei  of  November  16.] 
"ASSINIBOIA. 


"We  have  not,  as  yet,  the  honor  of  ranking  ourselves  among  the  'Colonies,' 
technically  so  called,  of  Great  Britain.  In  the  strict  and  literal  sense  of  the 
teim,  we  are;  but  this  affords  poor  consolation  to  our  pride  and  our  ambition, 
when  we  remember  the  important  distinction  existing  between  the  literal  or  ety 
mological  sense  in  which  we  are  a  colony,  and  the  conventional,  technical  sense 
in  which  we  are  not.  We  are  upon  British  territory ;  our  population  consists  of 
British-bom  subjects  and  their  descendants ;  this  place  or  district  was  first  colo- 
nized by  immigrants  from  the  old  country.  These  facts  warrant  our  denom- 
inating ourselves  a  colony  of  the  British  empire.  But  there  is  an  emptiness  in 
the  appellation  which  jars  unpleasantly  with  our  self-importance.  In  conversing 
or  corresponding  with  foreigners,  we  assume  the  name  with  self-complacency  or 
pretended  eatisfoction ;  but  when  we  reflect  upon  the  hard  facts  of  our  actual 
condition,  position  or  status,  our  forced  pleasure  at  once  gives  place  to  a  feeling 
of  mortification.  The  sense  in  which  we  are  not  a  colony  of  Great  Britain,  and 
in  which  we  desire  and  ought  to  be,  is  this :  that  we  have  no  official  recognition 
at  the  colonial  office ;  that  our  governor  does  not  hold  a  commission  directly 
from  her  Majesty,  and  that  'Assiniboia*  does  not  figure  in  the  same  list  as 
Barbadoes,  New  Brunswick,  Queensland,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  British  Guiana, 
and  Canada.  This  is  our  grievance  and  our  mortification.  Not  being  recog- 
nized at  Downing  street— our  governor  having  nothing  to  do  with  the  secretary 
of  state  for  the  colonies — we  are  nothing,  nowhere,  of  no  consequence.  Canada, 
Nova  Scotia,  and  even  such  an  upstart  as  British  Columbia,  repudiate  relation- 
ship with  us ;  the  colonies  deny  us  the  honor  of  their  society ;  being  themselves 
sisters  of  equal  standing,  they  set  ns  down  as  a  stranger  or  pretender,  and 
question  our  legitimacy. 

"  That  we  shall  not  always  smart  under  our  present  mortification  is  very  certain. 
Time  and  the  force  of  circumstances  will  give  us  our  coveted  status,  and  we 
must,  for  the  present,  bear  our  humiliation  with  the  best  grace  possible.  When 
the  change  does  come,  and  we  have  reason  to  think  it  not  far,  important  ques- 
tions will  at  once  arise  regarding  the  form  of  our  government,  the  nature  of 
land  tenure,  administration  of  justice,  interests  of  education,  public  revenue, 
&c.,  &c.  It  is  needless  as  yet  to  speculate  and  theorize  on  any  of  these  topics. 
Important  as  they  are  even  now,  they  will  at  once  become  tenfold  more  so  under 
change,  and  they  will  receive  what  they  deserve,  a  full  and  earnest  discussion." 


42 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


i 


I 


Tlio  writer  tliwi  procftedrt  to  diHcuse  the  namo  of  the  future  colony,  expressing 
a  preference  for  "AsHiiiiboia."  # 

And  yet,  notwitrttunding  this  deciHive  language,  the  Nor'weater  is  hardly 
abreast  of  the  public  dissatisfaction.  The  party  which  favors  annexation  to  the 
Unit(;d  Htat(!S  is  so  numerous,  especially  among  the  French  population,  as  to 
suggest  the  scluinie  of  a  rival  newspaper,  as  will  appear  from  the  following 
paragraph  in  the  Nor'wester  of  October  15,  also  copied  into  the  Toronto  Globe : 

"ANNEXATION   TO    BE   ADVOCATED   THROUGH    THE    PRESS. 

"The  Nor'west(!r  says:  'The  last  mail  brought  us  a  prospectus  from  Min- 
nesota of  a  new  journal  to  be  published  in  this  settlement.  The  projectors  are 
( )hio  m(!n,  and  have  only  recently  arrived  in  Minnesota.  It  is  their  intention  to 
come  this  fall,  if  possible,  but  if  not,  assuredly  next  spring.  The  ])rojector8 
are  Catholics,  but  say  that  they  will  deal  fairly  with  Protestants  of  every 
denomination,  tlnsir  ])aper  being  purely  sc^cular.  The  leading  princijdes  of  this 
journal  (which,  by  the  way,  is  to  be  $3  a  year)  are  said  to  be  "determined, 
inicompromising  hostility  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,"  and  "the  annexation 
of  the  Red  River  country  to  the  United  States."  Of  these  two  planks  in  their 
platform  we  nuist  say  that  we  have  uniformly  refused  to  adopt  the  former  or  its 
opposite!,  though  urged  tlujreto  by  many  here  and  abroad,  and  we  have  yet  to 
learn  that  our  moderate,  middle  course  should  be  abandoned.  The  second  will, 
we  hope,  be  uttcirly  impracticable.  Though  we  have  some  reason  to  complain, 
still  we  go  decidedly  for  British  connexion ;  and  we  have  such  confidence  in  the 
Red  Rivi'r  ]»eopl(!  that  we  believe  they  will  scorn  to  support  any  journal  of  con- 
trary opinions.' " 

The  people;  can  be  satisfied  only  by  a  speedy  organization  as  a  British  province, 
with  such  recognition  and  encouragement  of  local  interests  as  is  usual  on  the  part 
of  the  mother  country  when  a  crown  colony  is  established. 

As  I  have  previously  assured  the  department,  the  Americanization  of  this 
important  section  of  British  America  is  rapidly  progressing.  Unless  the  British 
Parliament  acts  promptly — for  instance,  during  the  session  soon  to  transpire  — I 
shall  confidently  expect  a  popular  movement  looking  to  independence  or  annexa- 
tion to  the  United  States. 

In  case  of  a  collision  with  England,  Minnesota  is  competent  to  "hold,  occupy, 
and  possess"  the  valley  of  Red  River  to  Lake  Winnipeg.  There  are  no  British 
troops  at  Foi't  Garry,  the  Canadian  rifles  whom  I  saw  there  in  1859  having 
returned  to  Quebec,  by  way  of  Hudson  bay,  during  the  summer  just  passed. 

To  illustrate  the  defenceless  posture  of  affairs,  as  ^well  as  the  dissatisfaction 
with  the  administration  of  Hudson  Bay  Company  officials,  I  annex  another 
paragraph  from  the  Nor'wester : 

"'MORE   TROOPS   xNEEDED.' 

"Under  this  heading,  in  our  last  number,  we  gave  instances  of  Indian 
assumptions  at  Pembina.  We  are  now,  alas!  able  to  illustrate  the  necessity 
for  troops  by  occurrences  in  our  very  midst.  Yesterday  fortnight,  a  band  of 
Indians,  fifty  or  sixty  in  number,  went  to  the  house  of  August  Schubert,  liquor 
dealer,  and  helped  themselves  to  a  cask  of  whiskey  and  almost  everything  in 
the  house.  He  remonstrated  and  protested,  but  to  no  effect;  might  took  the 
place  of  right,  and  he  was  compelled  to  give  way.  There  were  two  or  three 
others  besides  Schubert  at  the  time  in  the  house — Jlr.  Solomon  Hameliu,  mag- 
istrate, being  one.  It  was  he  that  interpreted  between  Schubert  (who  is  a  Ger- 
man) and  the  Indians.  They  were  powerless,  however,  to  check  or  prevent  the 
spoliation,  and  dreading  an  appeal  to  force,  they  allowed  the  Indians  to  have 


^ 


AND  NORTHWEST   BRITISH  AMERICA. 


4d 


> 


their  OAvn  way.  This  is  a  nignal  proof  of  what  wc  have  frofpiontly  affirmed, 
that  the  government  of  Iletl  River  is  uusnited  to  the  times.  Wr  require  n 
change ;  wc  need  more  vigor,  more  energy,  more  strength,  more  vigilance,  more 
general  effectiveness.  Let  it  come  how  it  may,  and  whence  it  may,  l»ut  a  change 
is  ahaolutehj  necessary.  Allowing  that  we  would  have  to  pay  some  taxes,  avc 
would  rather  do  that  and  have  st!curity  of  litV;  and  property  than  continue  to  he 
under  a  rule  which  is  cheap,  certainly,  but  which  fails  to  afford  security." 

I  hasten,  sir,  to  lay  before  you  these  facts  in  regard  to  the  Red  River  settle- 
ment, as  confirming  my  conviction  that  no  pprtion  of  the  Ih-itish  territory  on 
this  continent  is  so  assailable,  so  certain  of  occupation  by  American  troops  in 
case  of  a  war  with  England,  as  Fort  Garry,  and  the  immense  district  thence  ex- 
tending along  the  valley  of  the  Saskatchewan  to  the  Rocky  mountains.  If  our 
struggle  is  to  be,  in  the  fullest  sense,  a  struggle  for  national  existence,  against 
foreign  foes  as  well  as  domestic  traitors,  Minnesota,  however  remote  from  the 
Bceno  of  the  southern  insurrection,  will  claim  the  distinction  of  a  winter  cam- 
paign for  the  conquest  of  central  British  America.  I  api)en<l  a  rough  diagram, 
exhibiting  that  portion  of  British  territory  (enclosed  in  heavy  black  lines)  which 
1,000  hardy  Minnesotlans,  aided  hy  the  FreiicJi,  American,  and  half-hrced  popu- 
lation, could  seize  before  tlie  4th  of  March. — (See  diagram  on  following  page.) 

The  winter  weathcsr  would  not  deter  the  lumbermen  and  borderers  of  Minne- 
sota from  the  march  to  Pembina  and  Fort  Garry.  The  lino  from  St.  Paul 
marked  "  M.  &  P.  R.  R."  (Minnesota  and  Pacific  railroad,  for  whose  construc- 
tion Congress  has  granted  3,840  acres  per  mile)  traverses  the  country,  is  known 
familiarly  as  the  "wood  road,"  and  along  which  such  a  march,  with  proper 
equipments,  could  be  made.  In  1858,  at  the  depth  of  winter,  an  ill-appointed 
party  of  adventurous  men  transported  the  machinery,  furniture,  and  lumbc"  of 
a  steamboat  from  Crow  Wing,  on  the  Upper  Mississippi,  to  Shayenne,  on  the 
Red  River  of  the  North,  where  the  vessel  was  reconstructed,  and  has  since  made 
trips  to  Fort  Garry.  Indeed,  there  is  some  reason  for  the  opinion  that  the 
frozen  prairies,  marshes,  and  lakes  of  Minnesota  afford  facilities  for  military 
operations  in  winter  months  much  greater  than  the  army  will  find  in  Virginia 
or  Kentucky.  The  snow-fall  is  no  obstacle,  the  cold  can  bo  guarded  against, 
and,  on  a  "oute  well  supplied  with  wood  for  camp  fires,  the  journey  can  be  made 
with  security,  if  not  comfort. 

I  am  led  into  this  train  of  thought  by  the  news  of  the  morning,  forcing  me  to 
consider  the  possibility  of  a  war  with  England.  Probably  to  no  one  will  the 
news  be  more  unwelcome.  My  correspondence  with  the  Treasury  Department, 
and  the  investigations  which  I  have  been  encouraged  to  pursue,  have  had,  for 
their  permanent  predicate,  the  peace  of  the  two  great  nations  who  speak  the 
English  tongue.  The  telegi-ams  of  this  date  surprise  me  in  the  midst  of  labors, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  demonstrate  how  much  the  United  States  and  the 
British  districts  northwest  of  Minnesota  are  identified  in  geographical  situation 
and  material  interests  of  all  kinds.  To  the  advancement  of  the  latter  I  had  not 
deemed  annexation  essential.  By  treaty  stipulations  and  concurrent  legislation 
it  seemed  possible  to  work  out  the  mutual  destiny  of  the  American  States  and 
British  provinces  of  the  northwest.  I  trust  that  such  agencies  will  yet  be  suf- 
fered to  shape  and  advance  events  on  the  frontier.  But  if  otherwise — ^if  war  is 
unavoidable — the  budget  on  which  I  am  engaged,  and  of  which  some  instal- 
ments are  on  file  in  the  Treasury  Department,  may  prove  of  some  advamage  to 
the  government  in  our  altered  relations  to  England,  and  the  immense  central 
region  of  which  Minnesota  has  hitherto  been  the  commercial  key,  and  may  yet 
prove  a  military  highway. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

JAMES  W.  TAYLOR, 
"  '      -  Special  A^ent. 

Hon.  S.  P.  Chase,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


44 


RELATIONS   BETV.TEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


B 


AND  NORTHWEST  BRITISH  AMERICA. 


45 


St.  Taiil,  June  12,  1862. 

Sir:  Upon  the  general  Bnbjoct  of  a  cnHtoms  union  of  Britinh  America  and 
the  Uuitctf  States,  1  invito  your  attention  to  recent  (lovelopmeutB,  m  follows : 

.     1.  In  Canada. 

The  new  minister  of  finance,  Honorable  William  P.  Ilowland,  is  a  native  of 
New  York  city,  and  as  a  member  of  rarliament  from  the  Toronto  dintrict,  and 
a  member  of  the  committee  on  commerce  at  several  sensionf ,  is  fully  committed 
to  the  most  liberal  policy  of  intercourse  with  the  United  States.  In  1859  he 
presided  at  a  me«!ting  in  Toronto,  which  was  addressed  by  myself,  and  followed 
me  in  expressions  of  cordial  concurrence  with  our  Minnesota  propositions. 
Lately  I  met  Mr.  Rowland  in  Quebec,  and  received  additional  assurances  of  his 
sentiments,  whotever  policy  may  be  suggested  by  party  expediency. 

2.  In  Central  British  America. 

At  the  Selkirk  settlements  the  general  dissatisfaction  with  the  neglect  of  the 
home  government  finds  renewed  utterance.  The  following  article  is  copied  from 
the  local  newspaper  of  a  late  date : 

"  From  the  Red  River  settlement — Strong  talk  to  the  British  Government — 
Threats  of  Annexation  to  the  United  States. 

**  The  Red  River  Nor' wester  of  May  28  contains  the  following  article  upon 
the  relations  of  the  Red  River  people  with  England  and  the  United  States : 

"  *  It  is  high  time  that  the  British  government  should  take  into  earnest  con- 
sideration the  affairs  of  this  country.  They  have  hitherto  been  utterly  indif- 
ferent to  the  condition  of  Central  British  America;  but  careless  neglect  will  no 
longer  be  indulged  with  impunity.  The  present  imperial  cabinet  must  at  once 
take  up  the  suly«ct  of  a  change  in  this  country,  or  they  will  soon  wake  up  to  a 
very  unpleasant  state  of  things  hero. 

"  'Annexation  to  the  United  States  is  the  universal  demand  of  the  people  of 
this  country,  seeing  that  the  home  government  will  do  nothing.  The  sentiment 
has  been  growing  ever  since  commercial  intercourse  with  Minnesota  commenced ; 
and  it  is  increasing  in  intensity  to  such  an  extent  that  a  little  agitation  would 
ripen  it  into  a  formal  general  movement.  British-bom  residents  who  have  ever 
looked  fondly  to  the  dear  old  fatherland  now  ask  themselves,  What  is  the  use  of 
our  British  connexion  ]  The  name  is  something,  for  by  the  association  of  ideas 
it  suggests  a  participation  in  all  that  is  enlightened  and  liberal  in  government, 
all  that  is  advantageous  in  commerce,  all  that  is  glorious  in  history.  We  would 
fain,  they  say,  be  connected  with  Britain ;  but  what  is  the  use  ?  Of  what  advan- 
tage is  it,  seeing  that  the  connexion  is  nominal,  empty,  worthless?  Now,  when 
old  British-born  settlers  hold  this  tone,  what  can  be  expected  of  that  over- 
whelming majority  consisting  of  natives  (whether  half-breed  or  whites)  and 
foreignera  ?  These  care  not  one  groat  for  English  institutions  or  English  con- 
nexion, unless  they  bring  or  confer  palpable  advantages.  And  really  we  cannot 
expect  anything  else,  nor  is  their  course  altogether  without  excuse. 

"  *  Can  it  be  expected  that  we  should  not  become  Americanized,  when  on  the 
one  hand  Britain  shows  perfect  indifference  to  us,  and  we  enjoy  none  of  the 
commercial  or  governmental  advantages  which  we  have  a  right  to  expect,  and 
upon  the  other  hand  American  influences  of  every  kind  are  operating  upon  us  ? 
Mark  the  following  facts : 

" '  (1.)  We  have  no  postal  communication  with  any  part  of  the  civilized  world 
except  through  the  United  States!  For  two  or  three  years  previous  to  1860 
the  Canadian  government  maintained  a  monthly  mail  to  and  from  this  settlement, 


46 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN  THE   UNITED   STATES 


via  Fort  Willinra,  on  Lnkr  Superior.  Tills  wnn  a  Htop  In  tlio  right  direction, 
though  the  nrrangem(>nt  wax  very  uiiHutlHtuctorlly  carrittd  out.  lUit  irregulnr  oh 
wore  the  nmilH,  wv  hud  a  right  to  oxpoct  that  th«v  would  continue,  and  gradually, 
througli  expt'ricnce  of  the  rout(»,  w<)uld  work  hettt^r.  The  Canadian  govern- 
ment haH,  however,  diceontinued  thlH  nniall  hoon,  and  we  are  at  thirt  moment 
cutircdy  dependent  on  the  favor  of  the  American  government  for  our  mctauH  of 
communicating  with  the  outer  world.  They  have,  at  great  expcuHc,  (iHtahlifihed 
n  fortnightly  mail  to  our  frontier,  sixty  niihiH  from  thlH  Hettlement,  almost  entirely 
for  our  own  benefit.  Doch  this  fact  not  pre»ent  the  BritiHh  government  to  our 
view  at  a  diHadvantage. 

«'  '(2.)  If  we  except  the  round-about,  hIow,  and  very  uncertain  route  through 
the  arctic  HtraitH  of  ItudHon  bay,  it  m  oidy  through  or  from  tln^  United  HtatCB 
that  we  can  import  goods — by  an  American  route  alone  can  we  export  furs, 
skins,  cattle,  or  anything  else!  Is  this  favorable  to  loyalty]  An  importer  from 
Britain  can  at  present  get  but  one  supply  of  goods  in  the  year,  and  counts  him- 
self very  lucky  indeed  if,  considering  the  many  possible  mishaps,  ho  does  get  it ; 
whereas  the  dealer  in  American  goods  can  get  twenty  suppliijs  during  the  same 
time  if  he  chooses.  Almost  any  vveek  from  May  to  October,  inclusivi;,  a  splendid 
steamboat  may  be  seen  at  Fort  Garry  discharging  her  cargo  of  goods,  ancf  taking 
off  packages  of  furs  for  the  St.  Paul,  Boston,  or  New  York  market:  whose 
boat  is  this?  American  citizens,  whose  enterprise,  in  the  eyes  of  Red  Riverites, 
throws  into  shade  the  slow-going,  do-nothing  Britons,  whom,  nevertheless,  we 
are  expected  to  admire,  imitate,  and  hold  as  our  indispensable  fellow-subjects. 

"  '  (3.)  The  only  decent  route  into  this  country  for  emigrants  is  through  the 
States.  The  consequence  is  that  the  foreigners  who  are  settling  amongst  us  are 
for  the  most  part  American  citizens,  or  persons  thoroughly  Americanized.  Is 
their  influence  favorable  to  loyalty  ? 

"  '  (4.)  By  frequent  intercourse  with  the  Americans,  and  occasioiuil  visits  to 
Chicago,  Boston,  New  York,  &c.,  the  impression  is  fast  gaining  ground  that 
there  is  no  people  like  our  republican  ncignbors.  We  sec  their  fine  cities,  their 
railroads,  and  their  steamboats ;  we  read  of  the  rapid  settlement  of  new  territo- 
ries, and  of  the  liberal  system  of  legislation  by  which  the  sudden  development 
of  the  resources  of  ncAV  districts  is  a  matter  of  every  day  experience.  Mean- 
while, we  see  nothing  of  England's  prosperity  and  greatness,  and  get  none  of 
her  vast  wealth,  and  the  inference  from  all  is,  that  our  best  plan  is  at  once  to 
become  part  of  Minnesota. 

"  '  These  are  a  few  of  the  reasons  why  the  people  of  Red  River  now  say  to 
England,  Do  something  for  us  at  once,  or  forever  give  us  up  and  let  us  shape 
our  own  destinies.' "       , 

I  reserve  for  a  subsequent  communication  some  details  of  the  measures  by  which 
the  new  governor  general  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  is  instructed  by  the 
London  directory  to  check  or  divert  the  general  dissatisfaction  at  Selkirk. 

3.  On  the  Pacific  coast  op  British  America. 

The  following  article  from  the  British  Colonist,  of  April  15,  published  at  Vic- 
toria, Vancouver  island,  indicates  quite  distinctly  that  no  adjustment  of  our 
relations  with  the  British  provinces  is  now  desirable,  unless  its  proportions  are 
continental : 

"Reciprocity. — ^We  hope  some  of  our  legislators  will  not  allow  the  present 
session  to  pass  over  without  devoting  some  attention  to  a  reciprocity  treaty  with 
the  United  States.  A  little  more  attention  to  the  commercial  and  industrial 
interests  of  the  country  would  assist  materially  in  the  development  of  the  island. 
Beyond  the  ordinary  routine  of  voting  money  to  pay  officials,  passing  a  few 
private  bills,  and  spending  a  few  pounds  on  the  roads,  nothing  substantial  and 
expansive  has  been  done.    I  is  high  time  that  something  beyond  nursery  legis- 


AND   NORTHWEST   imiTISII   AMERICA. 


47 


*• 


1  tn  nhnuUl  })c>  tnkon  in  hand.  If  wo  wnnt  to  pfrow  rftpi«lly  In  wcnlth  nml  Im- 
uicc  wo  liMVo  to  turn  our  nnturnl  iulvnnta|]^oH  to  ncoount.  If  wo  rloMiro  to 
ndvnnco  in  the  only  path  to  distinction  opon  to  tlio  colony — a  miiritinio  and 
commorcial  ono — wo  will  havo  to  tako  up  tlio  quoHtion  of  a  rociprooity  troaty 
with  the  IJnitod  Htatow  at  aH  (sarly  a  dato  aH  noHHihlo.     Tlio  HO(»nor  it  in     ' 


iriy  a  w 
nil  1)0  it 


poHHUiio.  1  iio  HO(»nor  it  in  takon  in 
hand  tlio  (|uickor  tho  troaty  will  l»o  irmupirutod.  If  tho  preparatory  Btopn  bo 
tnkon  tliirt  HOHnion,  it  will  in  all  prohability  roquiro  a  yoar  or  ho  hofnro  mich  a 
troaty  can  bo  ratitiod.  Two  years  lience  tli(!  reciprocity  between  thi;  United 
StatoH  and  the  opHtern  provincoH  will  expire.  If  huccomh  nhould  not  crown  our 
oft'ortH  before  that  jH'i'iod,  by  propcir  nmnaj^ement  it  may  then,  when  that  treaty 
is  renewed,  an  it  moHt  certainly  will  be.  It  in  even  not  unlikely  that  tho  lied 
River  Hottlemont  ( AnHiniboia)  will  bo  included.  The  Hubject  Iimh  already  been 
agitated  tlioro,  ana  in  all  probability  the  only  delay  in  advancing  it  there  lies 
in  the  neglect  of  the  colonial  ofiico  to  emancipate  AHwiniboia  from  tho  Iludnou 
Bay  Company.  Wore  that  onco  doiu! — and  the  way  (^ventH  are  tending  it  can- 
not be  long  lioforo  it  will  bo — that  isolated  community  will  be;  knocking  at  the 
doorfi  of  the  United  States  CongroBS  to  bo  included  in  the  renewed  reciprocity 
treaty.  After  Ansiniboia,  all  that  would  bo  left  of  Uritish  North  America  to  bo 
included  in  a  reciprocity  treaty  wcmid  bo  Hritish  Columbia,  Vancouver  island, 
and  the  Hudson  Jiay  territories.  With  the  interest  that  wo  havo  at  stake  in 
this  matter  there  should  be  as  little  delay  as  pos8il)le. 

"  In  fact,  we  are  not  tho  only  parties  interested.  It  cannot  bo  said  that  the 
advantages  would  be  one-sided.  On  the  contrary,  reciprocity  would  be  an  equal 
advantage  to  California  or  Oregon  with  ourselves.  If  the  San  Francisco  con- 
sumers can  g«!t  our  coal  a  dollar  cheaper  a  ton,  or  our  sawn  lumber  20  per  cent, 
less  a  thousand  feet,  or  other  articles  at  an  equally  reduced  rate,  it  will  require 
no  further  argument  to  convince  them  that  they  are  interested  in  promoting  re- 
ciprocity, and  interested  in  a  way  that  every  kiic  will  feel  it  in  his  pocket. 
These  commodities  wo  can  supply  San  Francisco  cheaper  than  they  can  be 
had  elsewhere  on  the  coast.  Consequently  the  demand  Avould  steadily  increase. 
As  the  demand  increased,  so  would  the  consumption  of  California-  or  Oregon 
produce  increase  here,  and  the  developmeni  of  our  country  stimulate  the  indus- 
try of  theirs.  Tho  prospective  importance  of  British  Columbia  Avould  readily 
induce  Oregon  and  California  to  seize  the  oppoi-tunity  to  send  in  their  prodaco 
free.  They  would  find  that  there  was  no  commercial  barrier  to  trade,  but  that 
they  enjoyed  international  free  trade.  The  farmers'  interests  of  British  Colum- 
bia would  not  suffer,  as  the  remoteness  of  the  farming  districts  from  the  seaboard 
is  a  more  effectual  protection  than  a  tariff.  Whilst  the  consumer  at  present 
would  get  tho  necessaries  of  life  cheaper,  the  revenue  of  the  colony  would  be 
raised  by  higher  duties  on  luxuries  that  only  the  wealthy  would  buy.  Any 
scheme  of  reciprocity  ought  to  include  the  whole  British  territory  of  the  Pacific — 
even  British  Siberia." 

Respectfully  submitted. 

JAMES  W.  TAYLOR. 

Hon.  S.  P.  Chase,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 


Exhibit  G. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR  OF  NORTHWEST  BRITISH  AMERICA,  AND  ITS  RELA- 
TIONS TO  THE  REVENUE  AND  COMMERCE  OP  THE"  UNITED  STATES. 

St.  Paul,  Minn.,  May  1,  1862. 

The  commercial  relations  of  the  United  States  with  Northwest  British  America 
were  of  no  practical  importance  prior  to  1858.     The  controversy  of  1844,  as  to 


48 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


the  uortlicrn  boundary  of  Oregon,  turned  more  upon  considerations  of  national 
pride  than  of  material  advantage,  neither  government  holding  the  country  which 
was  the  subject  of  negotiation  to  be  desirable  for  colonisation. 

Vancouver  island,  commanding  the  Straits  of  Juan  de  Fuca  and  the  har- 
borage of  Puget  Sound,  was  considered  valuable  in  a  stategic  sense ;  but  the 
district  of  the  main  land  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  and  then  called  "  New 
Caledonia,"  was  held  in  no  higher  estimation  than  all  geographical  authorities 
now  regard  Labrador,  its  equivalent  of  latitude  on  the  Athmtic  coa?t.  During 
the  discussion  in  the  British  House  of  Commons,  in  1846,  the  opinion  was  ex- 
pressed by  a  member  that  the  whole  country  north  of  the  Columbia  river  was 
not  worth  c£20,000. 

Twenty  years  before,  or  in  1825,  Great  Britain  manifested  still  greater  in- 
difference to  territorial  occupation,  of  the  North  Pacific  coast  of  the  American 
continent.  At  that  time  Russia  was  foremost,  the  United  States  next,  and 
England  last,  to  assert  rights  of  possession.  In  1822  Russia  issued  an  ukase, 
declaring  the  North  Pacific  a  closed  sea  from  51°,  or  the  north  end  of  Van- 
couver island,  to  latitude  49°  on  the  Asiatic  coast.  This  was  resisted  by  the 
United  States,  who  claimed  as  high  as  54°  40',  and  Wiis  interested  that  Ameri- 
can whalers  should  not  be  excluded  from  the  North  Pacific. 

Negotiations  followed,  resulting  in  a  treaty,  of  1824,  between  the  United 
States  and  Russia,  makin^^  54°  40'  the  boundary  between  the  two  nations,  or 
at  least  that  the  United  States  would  not  settle  above  nor  Russia  below  that 
latitude,  and  declaring  the  Pacific  an  open  sea. 

In  1825  Great  Britain  made  a  boundary  treaty  with  Russia.  In  the  third 
article  the  boundary  commenced  at  the  southernmost  part  of  Prince  of  Wales 
island,  in  latitude  54°  40',  between  131°  and  133°  west  longitude,  theuse  up 
Portland  canal  to  56°  of  north  latitude,  and  "from  the  last-mentioned  point 
the  line  of  demai'kation  shall  follow  the  summit  of  the  mountains  parallel  to  the 
coast  as  far  as  the  intersection  of  the  141°  of  west  longitude,"  and  then  along 
that  meridian  line  to  the  Frozen  ocean. 

Article  nine  states  that  whenever  the  summit  of  the  mountains  parallel  to  the 
coast  exceeds  ten  marine  leagues  from  the  oce.an,  the  limit  between  the  British 
possessions  and  the  line  of  coast  which  is  to  belong  to  Russia  shall  be  formed 
by  a  line  parallel  to  the  windings  of  the  coast,  and  which  shall  never  exceed 
the  distance  of  ten  marine  leagues  thei*efrom. 

During  the  war  of  England  and  France  with  Russia  an  rvgreement  between 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company  and  the  Russian  Fur  Company  not  to  disturb  each 
other  was  ratified  by  the  English  government,  and  no  effort  was  made  to  take 
possession  of  the  coast  from  Portland  canal  to  Mount  St.  Elias.  The  fur  trade, 
in  the  language  of  a  British  journal,  "was  considered  of  more  national  import- 
ance than  9,000  square  miles  of  territory,  with  an  extensive  archipelago,  stretch- 
ing over  ten  degrees  of  longitude  along  the  coast  " 

Central  British  America,  including  the  basin  of  Lake  "Winnipeg,  and  t^ie 
Mackenzie  river,  was  only  known  as  the  territory  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company, 
with  no  other  destiny  admitted  to  be  possible  than  to  remain  a  preserve  of  the 
fur  trade.  With  great  assiduity  the  climate  of  Labrador  was  assumed  to  pre- 
vail in  corresponding  latitudes  of  the  Pacific  coast,  and  by  systematic  suppres- 
sion the  physical  analogies  of  the  European  coast  were  overlooked. 

Prior  to  the  gold  discovery  in  California  Russia  had  shown  a  disposition  to 
occupy  that  country,  exciting  the  jealousy  of  England.  Except  for  the  Mexi- 
can war,  an  European  intervention  would  have  probably  appropriated  the  bay 
of  San  Francisco  and  the  Gulf  of  California. 

The  organization  of  colonial  governments  for  Vancouver  island  and  British 
Columbia  was  the  result  of  the  discovery  of  gold  upon  Fiazer  river  and  the 
sudden  irruption  of  adventurers  in  1858.  The  colonization  of  Cilifornia  under 
the  same  impulse  ushered  a  new  era  upon  the  Pacific  coast  of  North  I  ^erica, 


\ 


AND   NORTHWEST    BRITISH   AMERICA. 


49 


txie 


and  the  events  of  1858,  concurring  with  imperial  legiBhitiou.  assures  for  the 
harborage  of  Puget's  sound  a  political  and  comm(;rcial  importance  only  equalled 
by  San  Francisco. 

Central  British  America,  oi  the  district  extending  from  Lakes  Superior  and 
Winnipeg  to  the  Rocky  mountains,  next  invited  the  attention  of  the  world. 

Even  before  the  commencement  of  the  discovery  of  gold  upon  Frazor  river 
and  its  tributaries  the  people  of  Canada  West  had  induced  the  Parliament  of 
England  to  institute  the  inquiry  whether  the  region  in  question  is  not  adapted, 
by  fertility  of  soil,  r,  favorable  climate,  and  natural  advantages  of  internal  com- 
niunication,  for  thj  support  of  a  prosperous  colony  of  England. 

The  parliamentary  investigation  had  a  wider  scope.  The  select  committee  of 
the  House  of  Commons  was  appointed  "  to  consider  the  state  of  those  British 

g)88e8sion8  in  North  America  which  are  under  the  administration  of  the  Hudson 
ay  Company,  or  over  which  they  possess  a  license  to  trade  ;"  and  therefore 
witnesses  were  called  to  the  organization  and  management  of  the  company  itself, 
as  well  as  the  natural  features  of  the  country  under  its  administration. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  1857,  the  committee  reported  a  large  body  of  ttistimony, 
but  without  any  decisive  recommendations.  They  "  apprehend  that  the  districts 
on  the  Red  River  and  the  Saskatchewan  are  among  those  mo.'^t  likely  to  be  de- 
sired for  early  occupation,"  and  "trust  that  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  effecting 
arrangements  between  her  Majesty's  government  and  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
by  which  those  district)?  may  be  ceded  to  Canada  on  equitable  principles,  and 
within  the  diatrictr*  thus  annexed  to  her  the  authority  of  th(  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany would  of  cours<!  entirely  cease."  They  deemed  it  "  proper  to  terminate 
the  connexion  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  with  Vancouver  island  as  soon  as 
it  could  conveniently  be  done,  as  the  best  means  of  favoring  the  development  of 
the  great  natural  advantages  of  that  important  colony;  and  that  means  should 
,V  also  be  provided  for  tin;  ultimate  extension  of  the  colony  over  any  portion  of  the 

adjacent  continent,  to  the  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  on  which  permanent 
settlements  may  be  found  practicable." 

These  suggestions  indicate  a  conviction  that  the  zone  of  the  North  American 
continent,  between  latitudes  49°  and  dS'^,  embracing  the  Red  River  and  the  Sas- 
katchewan districts  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  and  the  area  on  their  western 
slope,  since  organized  as  British  Columbia,  was,  in  the  judgment  of  the  committee, 
suitable  for  permanent  settlement.  As  to  the  territory  north  of  the  parallel  of 
55'^,  an  opinion  was  intimated  that  the  organization  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
was  best  adapted  to  the  condition  of  the  country  and  its  inhabitants. 

Within  a  year  after  the  publication  of  the  report  a  great  change  passed  over 
the  North  Pacific  coast.  The  gold  discovery  on  the  Frazer  river  occurred ; 
the  Pacific  populations  flamed  with  excitement ;  British  Columbia  was  promptly 
organized  as  a  colony  of  England ;  and,  amid  the  acclamations  of  Parliament 
and  people.  Sir  Edward  Bulwer  Lytton  proclaimed,  in  the  name  of  the  govern- 
ment, the  policy  of  continuous  colonies  from  Lake  Superior  to  the  Pacific,  and 
a  highway  across  British  America  as  the  most  direct  route  from  London  to  Pekin 
or  Jeddo. 

The  eastern  boundary  of  British  Columbia  was  fixed  upon  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains. 

The  question  recurred  with  great  force,  What  shall  be  the  destiny  of  the  fertile 
pkius  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  the  Red  River  of  the  North  1  Canada  pushed 
forward  an  exploration  of  the  route  from  Fort  William,  on  Lake  Superior,  to 
Fort  Garry,  on  the  Red  River,  and,  under  the  direction  of  S.  J.  Dawson,  esq., 
civil  engineer,  and  Professor  J.  T.  Hinde,  gave  to  the  world  an  impartial  and 
impressive  summary'  of  the  great  natural  resources  of  the  basin  of  Lake  Winni- 
peg. The  merchants  of  New  York  were  prompt  to  perceive  the  advantages  of 
connecting  the  Erie  canal  and  the  great  lakes  with  the  navigable  channels  of 
Northwest  America,  now  become  prominent  and  familiar  designations  of  oop 


50 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


I! 


mercial  geography.  A  report  to  the  New  York  C'.iamber  of  Commerce  very 
distinctly  corrected  tlie  erroneoun  impression  that  the  valleys  of  the  Mississippi 
and  8t.  Lawrence  rivers  exhausted  the  northern  and  central  areas  which  are 
available  for  agriculture. 

"There  is  in  the  heart  of  North  America,"  said  the  report,  "a  distinct  sub- 
division, of  which  Lake  Winnipeg  may  be  regarded  as  the  centre.  This  sub- 
division, like  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  is  distinguished  for  the  fertility  of  its 
soil*,  and  for  the  extent  and  gentle  slope  of  its  great  plains,  watered  by  rivers  of 
great  length,  and  admirably  adapted  for  steam  navigation.  It  has  a  climate  not 
exceeding  in  severity  that  of  many  portions  of  Canada  and  the  eastern  States. 
It  will,  in  all  respects,  compare  favorably  with  some  of  the  most  densely  peopled 
portions  of  the  continent  of  Europe.  In  other  words,  it  is  admirably  fitted  to 
become  the  seat  of  a  numerous,  hardy,  and  prosperous  community.  It  has  an 
area  equal  to  eight  or  ten  first  class  American  States.  Its  great  river,  the  Sas- 
katchewan, carries  a  navigable  water  line  to  the  very  base  of  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains. It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  the  valley  of  this  river  may  yet  offer  the 
best  route  for  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific.  The  navigable  waters  of  this  great  sub- 
division interlock  with  those  of  the  Mississippi.  The  Red  River  of  the  North,  in 
connexion  with  Lake  Winnipeg,  into  which  it  falls,  forms  a  navigable  water  line, 
extending  directly  north  and  south,  nearly  eight  hundred  miles.  The  Red  River 
is  one  of  the  best  adapted  to  the  use  of  steam  in  the  world,  and  waters  one  of 
the  finest  regions  on  the  continent.  Between  the  highest  point  at  which  it  is 
navigable  and  St.  Paul,  on  the  Mississippi,  a  raikdad  is  in  process  of  construc- 
tion ;  and  when  this  road  is  completed  another  grand  division  of  the  continent, 
comprising  half  a  million  square  miles,  will  be  open  to  settlement." 

The  sanguine  temper  of  these  remarks  illustrates  the  rapid  progress  of  public 
sentiment  since  the  date  of  the  parliamentary  inquiry,  only  eighteen  months 
before.  Of  the  same  tenor,  though  fuller  in  details,  were  publications  on  the 
subject  in  Canada,  and  even  in  England.  The  year  1859  opened  Avith  greatly 
augmented  interest  in  the  district  of  Central  British  America.  The  manifesta- 
tion of  this  interest  varied  with  localities  and  circumstances. 

In  Canada  no  opportunity  was  omitted,  either  in  parliament  or  by  the  press, 
to  demonstrate  the  importance  to  the  Atlantic  and  lake  provinces  of  extending 
settlements  into  the  prairies  of  Assinniboin  and  Saskatchewan — thei-eby  affoi'd- 
ing  advantages  to  provincial  commerce  and  manufactures  like  those  which  the 
communities  of  the  Mississippi  valley  have  conferred  upon  the  older  American 
States.     Nevertheless,  the  Canadian  government  declined  to  institute  proceed- 
ings before  the  English  court  of  chancery  or  queen's  bench,  to  determine  the 
validity  of  the  charter  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  assigning,  as  reasons  for 
not  acceding  to  such  a  suggestion  by  the  law  officers  of  the  crown,  that  the  pro- 
posed litigation  might  be  greatly  protracted,  while  the  interests  involved  were 
urgent,  and  that  the  duty  of  a  prompt  and  definite  adjustment  of  the  condition 
and  relations  of  the  Red  River  and  Saskatchewan  districts  was  manifestly  in- 
cumbent upon  the  imperial  authority. 

This  decision,  added  to  the  indisposition  of  Lower  Canada  to  the  policy  of 
westward  expansion,  is  understood  to  have  convinced  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton  that  an- 
nexation of  the  Winnipeg  basin  to  Canada  was  impracticable,  and  that  the  ex- 
clusive occupation  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  could  be  removed  only  by 
the  organization  of  a  separate  colony.  The  founder  of  British  Columbia  de- 
voted the  latter  portion  of  his  administration  of  the  colonial  office  to  measures 
for  the  satisfactory  arrangement  of  conflicting  interests  in  British  America.  In 
October,  1858,  he  proposed  to  the  directors  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  that 
they  should  be  consenting  parties  to  a  reference  of  questions  respecting  the 
validity  and  extent  of  their  charter,  and  respecting  the  geographical  extent  of 
their  territory,  to  the  judicial  committee  of  the  privy  council.  The  company 
/'  reaaaerted  their  right  to  the  privileges  granted  to  them  by  their  charter  of  in- 


\ 


AND   NORTHWEST   BRITISH   AMERICA. 


51 


corporation,"  and  rofuspd  to  be  a  consenting;  party  to  any  proceeding  which  might 
call  in  question  their  chartered  rights. 

Under  date  of  November  3,  1858,  Lord  Caernarvon,  secretary  of  state  for  the 
colonies,  by  the  direction  of  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton,  returned  a  despatcli,  the  tenor 
of  which  is  a  key  n  )t  only  to  Sir  Edward's  line  of  policy,  but,  in  all  probability, 
to  that  of  his  successor,  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  Lord  Caernarvon  began  by 
expressing  the  disappointment  and  regret  with  which  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton  had 
received  the  communication,  containing,  if  he  tmderstood  its  tenor  correctly,  a 
distinct  refusal  on  tue  f>art  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  to  entertain  any 
proposal  with  a  vieAV  of  adjusting  the  conllicting  claims  of  Great  Britain,  of  Can- 
ada, and  of  th(^  company,  or  to  join  with  her  Majesty's  government  in  affording 
reasonable  facilities  for  the  settlement  of  the  questions  in  which  imperial  no  less 
than  colonial  interests  were  involved.  It  had  been  his  anxious  desire  to  come 
J    .  to  some  equitable  and  conciliatory  agreement,  by  which  all  legitimate  claims  of 

the  eompany  should  be  fairly  considered  Avith  reference  to  the  territories  or  the 
privileges  they  might  be  ref[uired  to  surrender.  He  suggest«'d  that  such  a  pro- 
cedure, while  advantageous  to  the  interests  of  all  parties,  might  prove  particu- 
larly for  the  interests  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  "  It  would  afford  a 
tribunal  pre-eminently  fitted  for  the  dispassionate  consideration  of  the  questions 
at  issue ;  it  would  secure  a  decision  which  would  probably  be  rather  of  the  na- 
ture of  an  arbitration  than  of  a  judgment;  .and  it  would  furnish  a  basis  of  nego- 
tiation on  which  reciprocal  concession  and  the  claims  for  compensation  could  be 
most  successfully  discussed." 

With  such  persuasive  reiteration.  Lord  Caernarvon,  in  the  name  and  at  the 
instance  of  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton,  insisted  that  the  wisest  and  most  dignified  course 
would  be  found  in  an  appeal  to  and  a  decision  by  the  judicial  committee  of  the 
privy  council,  with  the  concurrence  alike  of  Canada  and  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company.  In  conclusion,  the  company  were  once  more  assured  that,  if  they 
would  meet  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton  in  finding  the  solution  of  a  recognized  difficulty, 
and  would  undertake  to  give  all  reasonable  facilities  for  trying  the  validity  of 
their  disputed  charter,  they  might  be  assured  that  they  would  meet  with  fair  and 
liberal  treatment,  so  far  as  her  Majesty's  government  was  concerned ;  but  if,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  company  persisted  in  declining  tluse  terms,  and  could  sug- 
gest no  other  practical  mode  of  agreeinent.  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton  held  liimself  ac- 
quitted of  further  responsibility  to  the  interests  of  th(!  lompany,  and  proposed 
to  take  the  necessary  steps  for  closing  a  cor  'versy  too  long  open,  and  for 
securing  a  definite  decision,  due  alike  to  the  material  devebtitnient  of  British 
North  America  and  to  the  requirements  of  an  advancing'  civilization. 

The  communication  of  Lord  Caernarvon  stated,  in  addit:  ii,  that,  in  tht  case 
last  supposed,  the  removal  of  the  exclusive  license  to  trade  in  my  part  <("  the 
Indian  Territory — a  removal  which  could  be  justified  to  parliament  only  as  a 
part  of  a  general  agreement  adjusted  on  the  principles  of  mutual  conc(;ssion — 
would  become  impossible. 

These  representations  failed  to  influence  the  company.  The  depii  gover- 
nor, Mr.  H.  H.  Barens,  responded  that,  as,  in  1850,  the  company  had  assented 
to  an  inquiry  before  the  privy  council  into  the  legality  of  certain  powers  claimed 
and  exercised  by  them  under  their  charter,  but  not  questioning  the  validit\  of 
the  charter  itself,  so,  at  this  time,  if  the  reference  to  the  privy  council  ^  re- 
stricted to  the  question  of  the  geographical  extent  of  the  territory  claimed 
by  the  company  in  accordance  with  a  pfoposition  made  in  July,  1857,  by  Mr. 
Labouchere,  then  secretary  of  state  for  the  colonies,  the  directors  would  recom- 
mend to  their  shareholders  to  concur  in  the  course  suggested ;  but  must  decline 
to  do  so,  if  the  inquiry  involved  not  merely  the  question  of  the  geographical 
boundary  of  the  territories  claimed  by  them,  but  a  challenge  of  the  validity  of 
the  charter  itself,  and,  as  a  consequence,  of  the  rights  and  privileges  which  it 


m 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE    UNITED   STATES 


professed  to  grant,  and  which  the  company  had  exercised  for  a  period  of  nearly 
two  hundred  years.  Mr.  Baren^  professt'd  tliat  the  company  had  at  all  times 
b«'on  willing  to  entertain  any  proponal  that  might  be  made  to  them  for  the  sur- 
render of  any  of  th<!ir  rights,  or  of  any  portion  of  their  territory  ;  but  lie  regarded 
it  as  one  thing  to  consent,  for  a  consideration  to  be  agreed  upon,  to  t\u'.  surrender 
of  admitted  rights,  and  quite  another  to  volunteer  a  consent  to  an  inquiry  which 
should  call  those  rights  in  question. 

A  result  of  this  correspondence  has  been  the  definite  refusal  of  the  crown  to 
renew  the  exclusive  license  to  trade  in  Indian  territory.  Tin;  license  had  been 
twice  granted  to  the  comp'iny,  under  an  act  of  parliament  authorizing  it,  for 
periods  of  twenty-one  years — once  in  1821,  and  again  in  1838.  It  expired  on 
the  30th  of  May,  1859.  In  consecjuence  of  this  ref.isal,  the  company  must  de- 
pend exclusively  upon  the  terms  of  their  charter  for  their  special  privileges  in 
Hritish  America.  The  charter  dates  'from  1670 — a  grant  by  Charles  II  to 
Prince  Rupert  and  his  associates,  "  adventurers  of  England,  trading  in  Hudson 
bay" — and  is  claimed  to  give  the  right  of  exclusive  trade  and  of  territorial 
dominion  to  Hudson  bay  and  tributary  rivers.  By  the  expiration  of  the  exclu- 
sive license  of  Indian  trade,  and  the  tennination  in  1859  of  the  lease  of  Van- 
couver's island  from  the  British  government,  the  sway  and  influence  of  the  com- 
pany are  greatly  restricted,  and  the  feasibility  of  some  permanent  adjustment  is 
proportionately  increased . 

There  is  no  necessity  for  repeating  here  the  voluminous  argument  for  and 
against  the  charter  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  The  interest  of  British 
colonization  in  Northwest  America  far  transcends  any  technical  inquiry  of  the 
kind,  and  the  Canadian  statesmen  are  wise  in  declining  to  relieve  the  English 
cabinet  from  the  obligation  to  act  definitely  and  speedily  upon  the  subject.  The 
organization  of  the  East  India  Company  was  no  obstacle  to  a  measure  demanded 
by  the  honor  of  England  and  the  welfare  of  India ;  and  certainly  the  parchment 
of  the  Second  Charles  will  not  deter  any  deliberate  expression  by  parliament  in 
regard  to  the  colonization  of  Central  British  America.  Indeed,  the  managers  of 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company  are  always  careful  to  recognize  the  probability  of  a 
compromise  with  the  government.  The  late  letter  of  Mr.  Barens  to  Lord  Caer- 
narvon expressed  a  willingness,  at  any  tine,  to  entertain  proposals  for  the  sur- 
render of  franchises  or  territory ;  and  in  1 848  Sir  J.  H.  Pelly,  governor  of  the 
company,  thus  expressed  himself  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Grey :  "  As  far  as  I  am 
concerned,  (and  I  think  the  company  will  concur  if  any  gi-eat  national  benefit 
would  be  expected  from  it,)  I  would  be  willing  to  relinquish  the  whole  of  tin; 
territory  held  under  the  charter  on  similar  temas  to  those  which  it  is  proposed 
the  East  India  Company  shall  receive  on  the  expiration  of  their  charter,  namely, 
securing  the  proprietors  an  interest  on  their  capital  of  ten  per  cent." 

At  the  adjournment  of  the  Canadian  parliament  and  the  retirement  of  the 
Derby  ministry,  in  the  early  part  of  1859,  the  position  and  prospects  of  Eng- 
lish colonization  in  Northwest  America  Avere  as  follows  : 

1.  Vancouver's  island  and  British  Columbia  had  passed  from  the  occupation 
of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  into  an  efficient  organization.  The  gold  fields 
of  the  interior  had  been  ascertained  to  equal  in  productiveness,  and  greatly  to 
exceed  in  ext'ent,  those  of  California  ;  the  prospect  for  agriculture  was  no  less 
favorable,  while  the  commercial  importance  of  Vancouver  and  the  harbors  of 
Puget's  sound  is  unquestionable. 

2.  The  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  mountains  and  the  valleys  of  the  Sas- 
katchewan and  Red  River  were  shown  by  explorations,  conducted  under  the 
auspices  of  the  London  Geographical  Society  and  the  Canadiin  authorities,  to 
be  a  district  of  nearly  four  hundred  thousand  square  miles,  iii  which  a  fertile 
soil,  favorable  climate,  useful  and  precious  minerals,  fur-bearinj^  and  food-yield- 
ing animals — in  a  word,  the  most  lavish  gifts  of  nature,  constituted  highly  satis- 


0^ 


AND   NORTHWEST    BRITISH   AMERICA. 


53 


factory  conditions  for  the  organization  and  settlement  of  a  prosperous  coiiimu- 
nity. 

3.  In  regard  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  a  disposition  prevailed  not  to 
disturb  its  charter,  on  conditicm  that  its  directory  made  no  attempts  to  j'nforce 
an  exclusive  trade  or  interfere  with  the  progress  of  settlements.  All  parties  an- 
ticipated parliamentaiy  action.  Letters  from  London  spoke  with  confidence  of  a 
bill,  draughted  and  in  circulation  among  members  of  Parliament,  for  the  erection 
of  a  colony  between  Lake  Superior  and  Winnipeg  and  the  eastern  limits  of 
British  Columbia,  with  a  northern  boundary  resting  on  the  parallel  of  55'^;  and 
which,  although  postponcid  by  a  change  of  ministry,  was  understood  to  represent 
the  views  of  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  the  successor  of  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton. 

4.  In  Canada  West  a  system  of  communication  from  Fort  William  to  Fort 
(iarry,  and  thence  to  the  Pacific,  was  intrusted  to  a  company — the  Northwest 
Transit — which  was  by  no  means  inactive.  A  mail  to  Red  River,  over  the  same 
route,  was  also  sustained  from  the  Canadian  treasury ;  and  parliament,  among 
the  acts  of  its  previous  session,  had  conceded  a  charter  for  a  line  of  telegraph 
through  the  valleys  of  the  Saskatchewan,  with  a  view  to  an  extension  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  even  to  Asiatic  Russia. 

Simultaneously  with  these  movements  in  England  and  Canada,  the  citizens 
of  the  State  of  Minnesota,  after  a  winter  of  active  discussion,  announced  a  deter- 
mination to  introduce  steam  navigation  on  the  Red  River  of  the  North.  Parties 
were  induced  to  transport  the  machinery  and  cabins,  with  timber  for  the  hull  of 
a  steamer,  from  the  upper  Mississippi,  near  Crow  W^ing,  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Shayenne,  on  the  Red  river,  where  the  boat  was  reconstructed.  The  first  voyage 
of  the  steamer  was  from  Fort  Abercrombie,  an  Am«'rican  post,  two  hundred 
miles  northwest  of  St.  Paul,  down  north  to  Fort  Garry,  during  the  month  of 
June.  The  reception  of  the  stranger  was  attended  by  cxtraordinaiy  demon- 
(>  strations  of  enthusiasm  at  Selkirk.     The  bells  of  Saint  Boniface  rang  greeting, 

and  Fort  Garry  blasted  powder  as  if  the  governor  of  the  company  were  ap- 
proaching its  portal.  This  unique  but  interesting  community  fully  appreciated 
the  fact  that  steam  had  brought  their  interests  within  the  circle  of  the  world's 
activities. 

This  incident  was  the  legitimate  sequel  to  events  in  Minnesota  which  had 
transpired  during  a  period  of  ten  years.  Organized  as  a  Territory  in  1849,  a 
single  decade  had  brought  the  population,  the  resources,  and  the  public  recogni- 
tion of  an  American  State.  A  railroad  system  connecting  the  lines  of  the  lake 
States  and  provinces  at  La  Crosse  with  the  international  frontier  on  the  Red 
river  at  Pembina  was  not  only  projected,  but  had  secured  in  aid  of  its  construc- 
tion a  grant  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  three  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  forty  acres  a  mile,  and  a  loan  of  State  credit  to  the  amount  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars  a  mile,  not  exceeding  an  aggregate  of  five  million 
dollars.  Different  sections  of  this  important  extension  of  the  Canadian  and 
American  railways  were  under  contract  and  in  process  of  construction.  In 
addition,  the  land  surveys  of  the  federal  government  had  reached  the  navigable 
channel  of  the  Red  river,  and  the  line  of  frontier  settlement,  attended  by  a 
weekly  mail,  had  advanced  to  the  same  point.  Thus  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  no  less  than  the  people  and  authorities  of  Minnesota,  were  repre- 
sented in  the  northwest  movement. 

The  foregoing  statement  of  the  condition  of  things  at  the  beginning  of  1860 
is  not  materially  changed.  The  Palmerston  ministry  has  not  prosecuted  to  effect 
the  masterly  and  comprehensive  policy  of  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton.  The  commerce  of 
Minnesota  with  Selkirk  and  the  Saskatchewan  valley  has  increased,  being 
double  in  1861  Avhat  was  transported  in  1860.  Selkirk  settlement  is  still  un- 
recognized as  a  province  of  England ;  its  population  not  materially  enlarged, 
and  mostly  by  American  emigrants. 

At  this  juncture  a  new  impulse  is  given  to  the  gold  discoveries  of  British 


54 


RELATIONS    BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


Columbia.  The  '•  Cariboo  district"  becomes  the  destination  of  tliouaandH  from 
every  portion  of  the  civilized  world ;  and  it  i»  ascertained  that  the  mountain 
ranges,  which  are  alike  the  poju-ccs  of  the  Columbia,  the  Frazer,  the  Peace,  the 
Athabasca,  and  the  Saskatchewan  rivers,  with  an  average  latitude  of  54°  and 
an  average  longitude  of  120"^,  nuist  inevitably  be  transformed  into  an  active 
scene  of  mining  adventure.  If  so,  Central  British  America,  as  I  designate  the 
plains  of  the  river  ba.<ins  converging  to  Lake  Winnipeg  and  closely  connected 
with  the  northwestern  States,  is  sure  of  jirompt  organization  and  settlement. 

With  these  expectations  I  propose  in  this  report  to  indicate  the  physical  apti- 
tude of  Northwest  British  America,  and  other  considerations  favorabl«'  to  its 
colonization.  Those  made  apjiarent,  the  relations  of  commerce  and  revenue 
incident  to  such  an  extension  of  Anglo-American  civilization  will  suggest  them- 
selves. 

I  propose  the  following  subdivision  of  topics : 

Part      I.  The  physical  geography  of  Northwest  British  America. 
Part    II.  The  history  and  organization  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 
Part  III.  Selkirk  settlement,  its  foundation,  institutions,  and  agriculture. 
Part  IV.  The  gold  discoveries  and  their  influence. 
Part    V.  Relations  of  Northwest  British  America  to  the  United  States. 

PART  I. 

THE  PHYSICAL  GEOGRAPHY  OF  NORTHWEST  BRITISH  AMERICA. 

The  mean  annual  temperature  of  35°  is  the  limit  of  the  north  temperate  zone. 
South  of  this  isotherm,  but  adjacent  thereto,  are  the  districts  on  both  continents 
best  adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  cereals  and  the  sustenance  of  cattle — the 
production  of  bread  and  meat. 

Beginning  on  the  northwest  coast,  this  line  touches  Sitka,  in  Russian  America, 
thence  bears  Avith  a  southeast  inclination  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  pursues  the  north 
shore  of  Lake  Superior,  crosses  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  extends  to  St.  John's, 
Newfoundland. 

Of  the  area  south  of  this  boundary  to  succcLsful  agriculture,  fully  two-thirds 
is  west  of  the  longitude  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  is  the  subject  of  the  pres- 
ent investigation.  I  premise  a  detailed  statement  of  the  advantages  and  pros- 
pects of  civilized  settlement  by  some  general  observations  upon  climate. 


y 


CLFMATE   OF   THE    PACIFIC   SLOPE. 

Briefly,  Vancouver's  island  has  the  littoral  climate  of  Ireland;  while  the 
southern  districts  of  British  Columbia,  which  are  within  the  latitude  of  Van- 
couver, are  not  unlike  England,  making  proper  allowance  for  the  exceptional 
influence  of  mountain  elevations.  The  analogy  between  the  Atlantic  coast  of 
Europe  and  the  Pacific  coast  of  North  America  will  hold  from  Sonora  to  Sitka. 
Spain  and  Italy  is  the  climatic  equivalent  of  Sonora  and  southern  California ; 
northern  France,  of  Oregon  and  Washington ;  while  Great  Britain  presents  the 
same  analogy  to  British  Columbia.  Glasgow,  in  Scotland,  and  Sitka,  in  Russian 
America,  of  about  the  same  latitude,  are  nearly  identical  in  geographical  position 
and  in  climate. 


CLIMATE    OF   CENTRAL    BRITISH    AMERICA. 

East  of  the  Rocky  mountains  the  great  northwestern  plains  have  a  continental 
climate,  and  I  can  best  illustrate  my  own  conclusions  in  the  premises  by  a  com- 
parison with  a  similar  area  of  European  Russia.  Draw  a  line  from  St.  Peters- 
burg twenty  degrees  east,  and  another  ten  degrees  south,  extending  them  into 


AND   NORTHWEST   BRITISH   AMERICA. 


55 


the  form  of  a  parallelogrnm,  and  a  region  is  described  whone  area  corresponds 
with  that  between  Lakes  Superior  and  Winnipeg  on  one  side,  and  the  Rocky 
inountainn  on  the  west,  and  extending  from  latitude  44^  to  54^.  No  two  hcc- 
tions  of  thi;  respective  c«mtinent«  more  closely  resemble  each  other  than  do 
those  above  delineated.  Both  are  immense!  plains,  developing  the  silurian,  car- 
boniferous, and,  in  some  measure,  a  cretaceous  geological  formation.  The  Mis- 
souri, Mississippi,  and  Saskatchewan  may  be  set  oti'  against  the  Dneiper,  the 
Don,  and  the  Volga,  of  Russia;  while,  in  respect  to  climate  and  productions,  the 
American  district  resembles  the  following  ])articulars  of  European  Russia. 

It  is  usual  to  consider  Russia  in  Europe  in  four  distinct  divisions :  a  polar 
region,  including  all  the  country  north  of  latitude  67° ;  a  cold  region,  extending 
from  67°  to  57°;  a  temperate  region,  from  57°  to  60°,  and  a  wann  region,  from 
50°  to  37°  Our  continental  latitude,  from  44°  to  54°,  represents  the  Russian 
temperate  zone  from  50°  to  57°,  as  well  as  three  degre(;s  of  the  cold  division, 
namely,  to  the  latitude  of  St.  Petersburg,  or  (JO  ■  north. 

The  temperate  region  of  Russia  has  a  mean  annual  temperature  of  from  40^^ 
to  50°,  and  includes  within  it  the  finest  and  most  populous  portion  of  the  empire; 
though  even  here  the  thermometer  has  a  very  wide  range,  the  summer  heat, 
which  suffices  to  grow  melons  and  similar  fruits  in  the  open  fields,  being  often 
succeeded  by  very  rigorous  winters.  Even  the  sea  of  Azof,  ranch  further  south, 
usually  freezes  about  the  beginning  of  November,  and  is  seldom  open  before  the 
beginning  of  April.  The  oak  is  seldom  found  below  latitude  61°;  few  fruit  trees 
are  found  beyond  56°,  and  their  regular  culture  cannot  be  profitably  carried  on 
north  of  the  53d  parallel.  In  this  latitude  (still  speaking  of  Russia)  apples, 
pears,  and  plums  become  abundant ;  and  still  further  south  peaches,  apricots, 
&c.,  flourish.  The  northern  limit  of  rye  is  65°,  of  barley  67^  and  oats  even 
further  north. 

Wheat  is  cultivated  in  Norway  to  Drontheim,  latitude  64° ;  in  Sweden  to 
latitude  62°;  in  western  Russia  to  the  environs  of  St.  Petersburg,  latitude  60° 
15';  while  in  central  Russia  the  limit  of  cultivation  appears  to  coincide  with  the 
parallel  of  58°  or  59°.  It  is  well  understood  that  the  growth  of  the  cerealia 
and  of  the  most  useful  vegetables  depends  chiefly  on  the  intensity  and  duration 
of  the  summer  heats,  and  is  comparatively  little  influenced  by  the  severity  of 
the  winter  cold  or  the  lowness  of  the  mean  temperature  of  the  year.  In  Russia, 
as  well  as  in  Central  America,  the  summer  heats  are  as  remarkable  as  the  winter 
cold.  The  northern  shore  of  Lake  Huron  has  the  mean  summer  heat  of  Bor- 
deaux, in  southern  France,  or  70°  Fahrenheit,  and  Cumberland  House,  on  the 
Saskatchewan,  exceeds  in  this  respect  Brussels  or  Paris.  It  is  remarked  by 
Sir  John  Richardson,  (and  such  also  is  the  analogy  of  Russian  Europe,)  that 
the  prairies  south  of  55°  enjoy  milder  winters  than  the  more  eastern  districts. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  potatoes  and  the  hardier  garden  vegetables,  oats,  rye, 
and  barley,  can  be  profitably  cultivated  as  far  north  as  54°  in  Saskatchewan 
district ;  that  wheat,  and  such  fruits  as  yield  cider,  are  safe  as  far  as  52° ;  and 
that  maize  may  be  cultivated  at  least  to  latitude  50° ;  while  the  country  between 
44°  and  51°  is  as  nearly  as  possible  the  counterpart  of  the  temperate  zone  of 
European  Russia.  With  the  same  system  of  canalage  and  a  reasonable  degree 
of  railroad  connexion,  our  vast  northern  plain  can  sustain  as  dense,  and,  with 
our  institutions  and  land  tenures,  a  denser  population  than  the  heart  of  the  Rus- 
sian empire. 

Its  capacity  to  support  life  is  shown  by  the  variety  and  abundance  of  wild 
animals.  Many  of  these  might  be  domesticated,  and  would  constitute  a  gieat 
resource  Besides  innumberable  fur-bearing  creatures,  there  are  four  different 
kinds  of  deer;  the  cariboo  or  reindeer  ranges  from  50°  to  66°;  the  Rocky 
mountain  goat,  whose  wool  is  highly  prized  in  the  manufacture  of  shawls,  fre- 
quents the  highlands  from  40°  to  60°;  the  bison  warms  in  the  prairies  west  of 
longitude  105°,  and  south  of  latitude  60° ;  and  the  streams  and  lakes  abound 


56 


RELATIONS    BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 


in  choice  vurieticH  of  fiHh.  No  legion  of  the  globe  \»  more  richly  endowed  with 
these  allieH  and  slaveB  of  the  Intnian  race. 

The  rigorourt  winter  climate  i»  no  obHtacle  to  the  future  occupation  of  these 
northern  plainr<.  The  correnponding  diHtrict  of  Ku^Hia,  with  the  i^ame  climate, 
in,  nB  already  nhown,  the  inont  popnlonn  and  flourishing  })ortion  of  the  empire. 
There  iH  much  miHajjprelu'nhiou  cm  this  subject.  Mr.  E.  Mi-rriam,  a  distin- 
guished  mi'teorologint,  staten,  in  a  review  of  the  recent  Arctic  expeditionn,  that 
nature  huH  mialified  man  t<)  breathe  an  atmonjihere  120°  above  zero,  or  G0° 
below  it,  a  difference  of  180^,  without  injury  to  health;  anc*  the  doctrine  of 
physicians  that  great  and  sudden  changes  of  temperature  are  injurious  to  health 
is  disproved  by  recorded  facts. 

With  this  general  analysis,  I  }»roceed  to  more  specific  delineation,  proceeding 
in  the  narrative  of  the  general  features  of  the  country  west  from  the  British 
coast  of  Lake  Superior. 


■   ':> 


ITINERARY    OF    SIR    OKORGB    SIMPSON. 

From  the  "Overland  Journey  Around  the  "World  in  1841-'42,  of  Governor 
Simpson,  who  was  for  more  than  thirty  years  the  executive  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company,"  it  is  proposed  to  furnish  an  abstract  of  whatever  seems  pertinent  to 
the  present  discus'sion,  during  his  journey  from  Fort  William,  on  tin'  northwest 
shore  of  Lake  Superior,  to  the  summit  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  These  details 
have  been  gleaned  from  the  pages  of  his  published  volume,  and  are  arranged 
under  dates  as  follows : 

Mat/  29. — Ascended  the  Kamanistaquoia  river  through  forests  of  elm,  oak, 
pine,  birch,  &c.,  the  stream  studded  by  islands  not  less  fertile  and  lovely  than 
its  banks,  reminding  the  party  of  the  rich  and  quiet  scenery  of  England.  Of 
flowers,  the  violet  and  rose,  and  of  fruits,  the  currant,  gooseberry,  raspberry, 
cherry,  and  even  the  vine,  are  mentioned  as  abundant.  Simpson  anticipates 
that  this  "fair  valley"  will  become  the  happy  home  ol  civilized  men,  and  furnish 
a  near  and  cheap  supply  of  agricultural  produce  to  the  mines  of  the  northern 
shore  of  Lake  Superior. 

May  30. — Crossed  the  Dog  Portage,  about  two  miles  in  length,  to  the  waters 
flowing  westward  into  Rainy  lake.  The  river  from  the  summit  is  de8crib<!d  as- 
"a  panorama  of  hill  and  dale,  checkered  with  the  various  tints  of  the  pine,  the 
aspen,  the  ash,  and  the  oak,  while  through  the  middle  there  meanders  the  silvery 
stream  of  the  Kamanistaquoia." 

May  31. — A  succession  of  difficult  portages. 
June  1. — Anotlier  vexatious  day's  journey. 

June  2. — Arrived  at  Fort  Francis,  on  Rainy  lake.  Until  reaching  the  lake 
former  difficulties  of  navigation  continued.  The  river  which  empties  Rainy  lake 
into  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  is  described  as  "  decidedly  the  finest  stream  on  the 
whole  route,  in  more  than  one  respect.  From  Fort  Francis  downwards,  a  stretch 
of  nearly  a  hundred  miles,  it  is  not  interrupted  by  a  single  impediment ;  while 
yet  the  current  is  not  strong  enough  materially  to  retard  an  ascending  traveller. 
Nor  are  the  banks,"  he  adds,  "less  favorable  to  agriculture  than  the  waters 
themselves  to  navigation,  resembling,  in  some  measure,  those  of  the  Thames, 
near  Richmond.  From  the  very  brink  of  the  river  there  rises  a  gentle  slope  of' 
green  sward,  crowned  in  many  places  with  a  plentiful  growth  of  birch,  poplar, 
beech,  elm,  and  oak."  And  in  this  connexion,  also,  the  tourist  indulges  in  a 
vision  of  "crowded  steamboats  and  populous  towns." 

June  3. — Lake  of  the  Woods  was  reached  and  nearly  traversed.     Its  shores 
are  represented  as  more  rocky  than  those  of  Rainy  lake,  yet  as  very  fertile, 
producing  wild  rice  in  abundance,  and  bringing  maize  to  perfection.     The  lake- 
is  studded  with  wooded  islands,  which,  on  account  of  their  exemption  from 
natural  frosts,  are  especially  adapted  to  cultivation. 


AND   NORTHWEST    RRITI8H   AMERICA. 


67 


June  4-7. — After  two  and  ii  hnlf  dnyw'  jouinoy  <m  the  rivor  Winnipep,  (wliich 
conncctH  tln^  Inko  of  that  nnme  with  tin'  Lake  of  the  Woodn,  and  in  deHcribed 
ftH  a  '*  maf^nifiocnt  Htrcnm,"  hut  conHtantlv  broken  into  falln  and  rapidn.)  thcs 
party  readied  Fort  Ah'xand<'r,  and  croHrted  to  tlie  mouth  of  Red  river,  thence 
UHCcnding  twenty-three  niih'H  to  Fort  (tarry,  in  htn^ritude  07°,  and  a  litth'  beyond 
latitude  50",  and  nituated  at  the  forkrt  of  the  Red  and  A«Hiniboin  rivern. 

Her((  (fovernor  Sini[iHon  remained  durin<r  tlje  month  of  .June.  He  confirms 
other  accounts^  of  the  Helkirk  netth'ment — that  the  coil  in  a  black  mould  of  great 
depth  and  fertility,  r'C)metiine(*  producinj;  forty  returiiH  of  wheat,  and  never  hsHH 
than  fifteen  to  twenty-five  buHhelH  an  acre ;  that  the  wheat  produced  if*  plump 
and  heavy ;  that  there  are  alfo  rained  large  (piantities  of  other  graiun,  benidcH 
beef,  mutton,  pork,  checHc,  and  wool  in  abundance ;  that  within  the  nettlementH 
cattle  find  food  for  themselves  about  seven  months*,  but  during  the  remainder  of 
the  year  they  are  maintained  on  the  ntraw  of  the  farms,  and  on  hay  cut  on  the 
boundk'HB  comnumw  behind  ;  that  the  occasional  inundations  to  which  the  allu- 
vial plain  of  the  Red  River  is  subject  renew  the  fertility  of  the  fields  in  an  ex- 
traordinary degree ;  but  that  these  inundations  and  the  intense  cold  winter  (the 
thermometer  for  weeks  together,  at  some  hour  in  the  twenty-four,  marking  30° 
below  zero,  and  the  mercury  often  freezing)  are  the  material  disadvantages  of" 
the  country. 

Early  in  Jxxly  Governor  Simpson  resumed  his  journey  to  the  Pacific,  taking 
a  northwestwardly  direction  to  Edmonton  House,  near  latitude  54°,  and  longi- 
tude 113°,  four  degrees  of  latitude  north,  and  six  degrees  of  longitudes  Avest  of 
Fort  Garry.  Whatever  notices  of  the  intervening  country  may  relate  to  its 
natural  capacity  for  settlement  Avill  be  abstracted  under  dates  as  nearly  succes- 
sive as  the  narrative  indicates. 

Juli/  3. — The  scenery  of  the  first  day's  journey  is  described  as  generally  a 
-"  •"  dead  level :  "  On  the  east,  north,  and  south   there  was  not  a  mound  or  a  tree 

to  vary  the  vast  expanse  of  green  sward,  while  to  the  west  were  the  gleaming- 
bays  of  the  Assiniboin,  separated  from  each  other  by  wooded  points  of  consid- 
erable depth." 

July  4. — Forded  the  Ohampignan.  Country  same,  except  that  the  path  oc- 
casionally ran  through  a  clump  of  trees.  The  beds  of  many  shallow  lakes  were 
crossed,  which  contain  water  only  during  the  spring,  and  bear  luxuriant  grass 
as  high  as  a  horseman's  knees,  while  the  surface  of  the  hard  ground  was  beau- 
tifully diversified  with  a  variety  of  flowers,  such  as  the  rose,  the  hyacinth,  and 
the  tiger  lily.  The  rankness  of  vegetation  is  likened  to  that  in  the  torrid  zone ; 
but  it  was  observed,  during  the  afternoon  ride,  that  the  character  of  the  country 
completely  changed.  The  plain  gave  place  to  a  rolling  succession  of  sandy 
hills,  generally  covered  with  brush,  but  with  spots  which  looked  like  artificial 
shrubberies.  "This  ridge,"  it  is  added,  "is  evidently  one  of  nature's  steps 
from  a  lower  to  a  higher  level,  and  may  be  traced  from  Turtle  mountain,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  international  boundary,  to  the  branch  of  Swan  river,  in 
latitude  52^  30',  and  even  round  to  the  Basqua  Hill,  on  the  waters  of  the  lower 
Saskatchewan.  It  appears  to  have  been  in  former  days  the  shore  of  an  inland 
sea,  comprising,  in  one  indistinguishable  mass,  Lakes  Winnipeg,  Manitoba,  and 
Winnipegos,  with  many  of  their  feeders.  This  view  may,  perhaps,  derive  con- 
firmation from  the  fact  that  the  largest  of  the  primeval  sheet  of  waters,  namely, 
Lake  Winnipeg,  still  continues  to  retire  from  its  western  side,  and  to  encroach 
on  its  eastern  bank." 

At  their  evening  camp  the  travellers  deemed  themselves  fortunate  in  the 
vicinity  of  a  running  stream,  instead  of  being  doomed  to  swallow  the  seething 
dregs  of  half-dried  lakes. 

July  5. — On  resuming  their  journey  the  party  passed  among  tolerably  well- 
wooded  hills,  while  on  either  side  of  them  there  lay  a  constant  succession  of 
small  lakes,  some  of  them  salt,  which  abounded  in  wild  fowl.     In  the  neighbor- 


58 


RELATIONS   RETWEEN   THE    UNITED   STATES 


^ 


hood  of  tliofle  wntors  tliR  pnnt«ro  wan  rich  nnd  hixuriant ;  and  thvy  travorsed 
two  fichls  (for  («o  they  are  teriiM'd  in  the  narrative)  of  tlic  rone  nnd  the  Hwect 
brier,  while  each  loaded  the  air  with   iti*  own  peculiar  perfume.     'I'lic  evening? 
encninpment  wan  in  the  "  pretty  valley  of  the  Rapid  river." 

July  6. — Hitherto  (fov«!rnor  Simpson  had  lieen  tnivelliiif?  at  the  daily  speed 
of  lioreeH,  hut  his  Hulmeijuent  projjress  was  retarded  by  that  of  loaded  carts, 
which  had  precedt.'d  his  own  departure  troni  Fort  Oarry.  lie  mentions,  during 
the  day's  route,  munerous  small  lakes,  a  large  salt  lal\(s  nnd  a  i^hoal  hk<',  lying 
in  a  hilly  and  well-wooded  district. 

July  7. — Reached,  after  an  hour's  ride  over  hilly  an<l  rugged  ground,  what  is 
called  George  Sinclair's  eiu'amptmeni,  on  Bird-tail  creek,  a  rapidly  flowing 
tributary  of  the  Assiniboin,  and  beyond  this  stream  M'as  an  undulating  {trairie 
of  vast  extent,  with  the  Assiniboiu  in  the  distance,  (hi  a  neighl)oring  height 
three  bands  of  antelopes  were  seen — the  lirst  aninials  observed  since  leaving  Red 
River  settlement,  although  thu  prairi«'s  innnediately  before  the  party,  the  writer 
remarks,  are  well  known  as  the  horn.'  of  manv  varieties  of  the  deer. 

July  8. — R«'ached  Fort  Ellice,  (post  of  the  Hudson  Ray  Company,)  sending 
carts  and  baggage  across  the  Assiniboin  in  a  bateau  belonging  to  the  post, 
swimming  the  horses  ov«'r,  aiul  the  travellers  making  their  own  passage  in  the 
barge's  last  trip.  Those  facts  indicate  the  Assiidboin  to  b«'  a  considerable 
stream,  perhnps  navigable  by  steamers  (juite  near  its  western  source. 

July  9. — Passed  through  extensive  prairies  studded  with  clumps  of  trees.  It 
is  mentioned  that,  during  the  day,  considerable  inc(»nvenienc<'  with  regard  to 
provisions  was  suffered  from  the  lu'at  of  the  weather.  The  nfternocm's  march 
was  through  a  swampy  country  benet  with  underwoo<l,  the?  route  <'onstantly  Avind- 
ing,  like  a  river,  round  the  extremities  of  lakes  and  marshes. 

July  10. — Prairie  harder  and  more  open  ;  vegetation  withering  from  drought ; 
antelopes  bounding  over  the  hillocks.  A  cold  rain  fell  all  the  afternoon  and 
night.  The  party  "  spent  a  miserable  night  under  the  pouring  torrent,  while 
wolves  and  foxes  rendered  the  position  more  hideous  by  their  howling.'" 

July  11. — Quite  a  landmark  of  the  journey  Avas  attained,  the  Butte  aux 
<jhien8,  Dog  Knoll,  towering  with  a  height  of  about  four  hundred  feet  over  n 
boundless  prairie  as  level  and  as  smooth  as  u  pond.  This  vast  plain,  which  the 
Avriter  supposes  to  have  once  been  the  bed  of  a  lake,  with  an  islet  in  its  centre, 
is  covered  with  an  alluvial  soil  of  great  fertility,  is  strewed  with  water-worn 
stones,  and  presents  various  aqueous  deposits.  On  leaving,  the  day's  route 
traversed  about  thirty-live  miles  of  prairie  among  sev«!ral  large  and  beautiful 
lakes.  At  this  time  the  ordinary  rate  of  travelling  was  four  or  live  miles  an 
hour  for  ten,  twelve,  or  fourteen  hours  a  day. 

July  12. — Followed,  for  about  twenty  miles,  the  shores  of  Lac  Sale,  or  Salt 
Lake,  having  waters  as  briny  as  the  Atlantic.  A  curious  circumstance  is  noted 
in  respect  to  these  saline  lakes,  that  they  are  often  separated  from  fresh  water 
only  by  a  naiTOw  belt  of  land, 

July  13. — Marched  till  10  o'clock  in  a  soakuig  rain.  The  weather  improving 
in  the  afternoon,  the  route  for  a  long  distance  was  through  "  a  picturesque  coun- 
try, crossing  the  end  of  an  extensive  lake,  whose  gently  sloping  banks  of  green 
sward  were  crowned  with  thick  woods." 

July  14. — Under  this  date  an  extract  is  appended  :  "  Li  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try we  saw  many  kinds  of  birds,  geese,  loons,  pelicans,  ducks,  cranes,  two  kinds 
of  snipe,  hawks,  owls,  and  gulls  ;  but  they  were  all  so  remarkably  shy  that  we 
were  constrained  to  admire  them  at  a  distance.  In  the  afternoon  we  traversed 
a  beautiful  country  with  lofty  hills  and  long  valleys  full  of  sylvan  lakes,  while 
the  bright  green  of  the  smface,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  assumed  a  foreign 
tinge  under  an  uninternipted  profusion  of  roses  and  blue-bells.  On  the  summit 
of  one  of  these  hills  we  commanded  one  of  the  few  extensive  prospects  we  had 
of  late  enjoyed.     One  range  of  heights  rose  behind  another,  each  becoming 


AND   NORTHWEST    UKITIHH   AMKRICA. 


59 


faintfr  ax  It  n-ccjU'd  t'roin  tin-  ityv,  till  the  furtlu'Ht  wa>*  Mnuhid,  in  aliuont  undin- 
tiuji^uiHhaltlo  coiifu.siun.  with  tli<-  t'lmulH,  while  the  HoftrHt  vahn  npicad  a  pano- 
rama (d'  hanji^in};  fopniH  and  j,'littt  rin^'  lukcn  nt  our  t'ct-t." 

The  travi'lh'iH  had  now  rcaclH-d  the  How  rivei",  or  the  (•(tnth  hianih  of  the 
Sawkatflu'wan,  "which,"  navH  Simiwtn,  "taken  '\U  r\!*o  in  the  Rocky  nioinitainH, 
near  the  international  frontier,  and  is  of  courtiderahle  nm-,  without  any  physical 
impediment  of  any  moment.  *  •  *  At  the  cror<,-iin}^  pliice  the  ])ow  river  in 
about  H  third  of  a  mile  in  width,  with  a  .ntronf;  current,  and,  r*ome  twenty  milert 
below,  fallrt  into  iIk-  main  Saskatchewan,  wIh'Ium-  the  united  ntreaniH  flow  toward 
Lake  Winnipeg,  forming  at  their  mouth  the  (irand  Uapid?*  of  about  three  miloH 
in  length." 

A  smart  ride  of  four  or  tive  hoiuf*  from  the  Bow  river,  through  a  country  very 
much  reHend)ling  an  English  park,  brought  the  party  to  Fort  Carleton,  on  Ihe 
Saskatchewan;  latitude  f/.i',  longitude  about  108 ^  (juvernor  Simpson  speaks 
of  large  gar'b'us  and  fields  in  the  vicinity  of  tin;  fort,  producing  an  abundance 
of  jjotatoes  and  other  vegetables,  but  adds  that  wheat  is  often  (hfstroyed  by  the 
frosts  of  autum. 

"The  Saskatchewan,"  he  remarks,  "is  here  ujjward  of  a  (|uarter  of  a  mile 
wide,  presenting,  as  its  name  implies,  a  sAvift  current.  It  is  navigablr^  for  boats 
from  Rocky  Mountain  House,  in  htngitude  UG'^,  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  upwards  of 
seven  hundred  mihs  in  a  direct  lint;,  but  by  the  actu»d  course  of  tlie  stroauj 
nearly  double  that  distance.  Though  above  Edmonton  tin*  river  is  much' 
obstructed  by  rapids,  yet  from  that  fort  to  Lake  Winnipeg  it  is  de'scended,  witli- 
out  a  portage,  alike  by  boats  and  canoes,  while  even  on  the  upward  voyage  the 
onlv-  break  in  the  navigation  is  the  Grand  Rapids,  already  mentioned." 

I'lie  party  remained  several  days  at  Fort  Carleton.  Frequent  reference  is 
made  in  the  naiTative  to  parties  of  Indians,  the  whole  number  in  the  Saskatche- 
wan district  being  e.stimated  at  16,730.  and  also  a  party  of  emigrants  from  the 
Red  River  settlement  to  the  Pacitic.  In  the  latter  connexion  occurs  the  follow- 
ing touching  incident,  itself  a  high  tribute  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  unexplored 
Saskatchewan : 

"Among  the  emigrants  was  on(!  poor  woman,  upwards  of  seventy-five  years  of 
age,  who  was  tottering  after  her  son  to  his  new  home.  This  venerable  wan- 
derer was  a  native  of  the  Saskatchewan,  of  which,  in  fact,  she  bore  the  name ; 
she  had  been  absent  from  this  the  land  of  her  birth  for  eighteen  years,  and,  on 
catching  the  first  glimpse  of  the  river  from  the  hill  lumr  Carleton,  she  burst, 
under  the  influence  of  old  recollections,  into  a  violent  flood  of  tears.  While  the 
party  remained  at  the  fort  she  scarcely  ever  left  the  banks  of  the  stream,  appear- 
ing to  regard  it  with  as  much  veneration  as  the  Hind(>o  regards  the  Ganges." 

There  remained  a  week's  journey  to  Edmonton,  and  among  its  incidents  were 
the  following  :  The  route  on  the  first  day  "  lay  over  a  hilly  country  so  pictur- 
esque in  its  character  that  almost  every  commanding  portion  presents  the  ele- 
ments of  an  interesting  panorama;"  buftalo  soon  became  very  numerous,  and, 
in  addition,  the  party  frequently  met  wolves,  badgers,  foxes,  beavers,  and  ante- 
lopes; raspberries,  a  sort  of  cross  between  the  cranberry  and  black  currant, 
called  the  oerviceberry,  and  the  eyeberry,  very  nearly  resembling  the  straw- 
berry in  taste  and  appearance,  were  found  in  abundance.  A  sharp  frost  before 
sunrise,  followed  by  a  heavy  dew,  occurred  on  the  22d  of  July.  Near  Edmon- 
ton they  crossed  a  vast  plain,  which  was  covered  with  a  luxuriant  crop  of  the 
vetch,  or  wild  pea,  almost  as  nutritious  a  food  for  cattle  and  horses  as  oats; 
while  the  vicinity  of  the  fort  is  represented  as  rich  in  mineral  productions,  a 
seam  of  coal,  ten  feet  deep,  having  been  traced  for  a  considerable  distance  along 
both  sides  of  the  river. 

We  will  not  follow  the  governor  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  through  the 
gorges  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  or  his  subsequent  adventures  on  the  Pacific 
coast. 


60 


RELATIONS   HKTWEEN   THE    UNITED   HTATEH 


The  arm  conipriHrd  witliin  tlir  iIvith  (•otiv«'r(rln|jf  to  Lake  Wlnninrj?  In  cntl- 
iiwitrd  to  contniii  400,(100  nquarr  inih-n.  KHniiliar  an  tin-  Aiin'rican  nuhlic  in  with 
thr  prof^H'HH  of  the  MinKinHipiii  HtHtrn,  I  am  iiicliru'd  to  review  tln' nnrfln  of  Lakr 
Winiii|M');  from  tli*'  wrutcrti  Htiind-point  of  itf*  capacity,  to  \tv  divided  and  occu- 
|»i«'d  an  Statrn  or  proviiiccH,  cacli  having  an  avrraj;*'  ana  of  .')0,000  rtquarc  miloH. 
Startinjf,  tlicnfons  from  t..nt  point  of  tlir  wcHtcrn  Iwunidary  of  Minm-nota,  which 
hax  hcconu'  the  licad  of  Htcamlioat  navij^'ation  on  tlic  I{<>d  river,  I  proceed,  in 
convenient  KiilxliviHionH,  to  dcHcrilie  the  vant  dintrict  enclosed  hetween  latiindrrt 
49'  and  .O/)",  and  extending  fn»m  tlie  fthoren  of  Lak«'  Winnipe|^  to  the  Hocky 
monntaiiiH. 


I 


THR    AMKRICAM    VALI.KV    OF    THR    KKD    RIVKR. 

Of  thin  district  Lac  Travernc  in  one  direction,  and  Ottertail  hike  in  n  line 
neartir  north  from  Saint  Paul— either  point  n<»t  mon*  than  two  hundred  miles 
distant — may  he  rej?arded  an  itn  extreme  southern  limits;  Pemhina  and  the 
international  frontier  the  northern,  while  the  hmj^itude  of  Hed  lake  on  the  eaBt, 
and  of  Miimewakan  or  Hpirit  lake  on  tin*  west  are  convenient  desijifnations  of 
the  remaining  houndarieH.  This  area  would  extend  from  ahout  latitude  46°  to 
49°,  and  from  longitude  96^.30  to  99°. 

Captain  J'ope,  in  his  exploration  of  1849,  n-marks  that  for  fifty  miles  in  all 
dinictions  around  Ottertail  lake  is  the  garden  of  the  northwest.  The  outlet  of 
the  lake,  constituting  the  source  of  the  lied  lliver  of  the  North,  has  ht^en  ver; 
favorably  described  l>y  Dr.  Owen,  of  the  United  States  geological  survey. 
pr«(sents  a  succesHion  of  lakes  and  rapids,  while  at  other  points  rolling  prairies 
exti'ud  from  its  banks,  cnssted  with  beautifully-dispersed  groves  of  timber.  It 
was  in  this  section  of  Minnesota  that  the  magnesian  limestone  containing  Silu- 
rian fossils,  identical  with  those  in  the  blufl's  of  the  Mississippi  below  St.  l*aul, 
was  recognized  by  Dr.  Owen  in  situ — showing  that  the  primary  formation  which 
(livides  Miiuiesota  from  northeast  to  southwest  is  succeeded  to  the  northwest  by 
the  ascending  series  of  sedimentary  rocks. 

There  is  ample  testimony  that  westward  from  Ottertail  lake  for  at  least  one 
hundred  miles,  and  northward  to  Red  lake,  if  not  beyond,  no  more  favorable 
distribution  of  beautiful  prairies  aiul  fon^sts  can  be  imagined.  The  lakes  are 
numerous  but  small,  and  almost  invariably  skirted  with  timlx^r,  the  sugar  maple 
largely  preponderating.  Seldom  is  th(;  traveller  out  of  sight  of  these  groves, 
while  the  soil  is  unsurpjissed. 

From  Dr.  Owen's  Geological  Report  it  appears  that  below  the  head  of  nav- 
igation the  western  bank  of  the  Red  river  is  a  vast  plain,  but  on  the  east,  where 
the  country  is  level,  timber  is  more  abundant  on  the  river  banks ;  the  soil  is 
congenial  to  the  ash,  which  attains  a  large  size.  Below  the  mouth  of  Red  Lake 
river  strong  chalybeate  springs  ooze  from  the  clay  banks;  saline  springs  are  also 
found,  and  all  accounts  concur  that  hardly  an  acre  but  is  eminently  adapted  to 
the  cultivation  of  wheat.  This  great  staple,  with  the  aid  of  machinery,  will 
hereafter  be  cultivated  more  advantageously  over  the  northwestern  areas  of  the 
continent  than  in  the  Mississippi  basin. 


AvSSINIBOIA. 


This  is  the  official  designation  of  the  district  of  British  America  occupied  bv 
the  Selkirk  settlements.  It  embraces  the  lower  or  northern  section  of  the  Red 
River  and  the  productiv(!  valley  of  the  Assiniboia.  Here  is  a  civilized  and  in- 
teresting community  of  ten  thousand  souls,  with  schocds,  churches,  a  magistracy, 
and  a  successful  agriculture. 

A  sketch  of  Selkirk  settlement  is  postponed  to  a  subsec^uent  division  of  this 
report. 


AND   NORTHWEST    BKITIHII    AMERICA. 


61 


CirMBKRl.AIM), 


North  of  th<>  Rt'il  Riv<>r  H<>ttl(>in«>ntH  in  u  rr^ion,  utiiiortt  a  dirtcovcry  ot  n*(utiit 
cxplon^rH,  which  in  <'V«'n  mor«!  iittrnctivc  thuti  tlw  pniiiic  district,  rontiKuoiiH  to 
th«^  Rod  niid  A»<rthiil)oia  rivcrrt.  Intiurdiatily  wtnt  of  Lnkr  Wiiiiiipr^  arc 
Lak(!rt  Winnip«>|rooH  mid  Munitoha,  with  an  outlet  Howiii^  into  Luke  Wiiitii|)i!){, 
in  latitude  r}2\  Tributary  to  Lake  Wiunipt'i^oon  arr  th«'  Rtd  I)«M'r  nntl  Hwau 
riv«!rH,  which  drain  a  country  of  rare  hrauty  an<l  ftrtiiity.  A  trav«'lh>r,  writinjif 
to  a  Canadian  n»'WHpat»t'r,  urHcrihcrt  its  j^oiuirat  tV'aturrw  an  rich  prairifH,  intcr- 
BiM^rHcd  with  hclts  of  lioavy  oak  and  chn  ;  whihi  the  itinerary  of  Sir  (iforp' 
SimpHon  aftords  n  moHt  j^lowin;?  picture  of  the  HourccH  of  Hwan  river.  Under 
date  of  .Fuly  14  he'olwervert  :  "  In  thin  part  ot  the  country  we  naw  many  rtortn  of 
birdn,  veeHe,  looui^,  pelicanrt,  duckH,  cranes,  two  kiiuls  of  Huipe,  hawkn,  owls,  and 
gulirt;  nut  thoy  w«!re  all  mo  remarkably  nhy  that  we  were  constrained  to  admire 
them  from  a  dintance.  In  the  afternoon  we  traversed  a  beautiful  country  with 
lofty  hillri  and  Ions  valleyn  full  of  sylvan  lakes,  while  the  bright  green  of  the 
surface,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  assumed  a  torcign  tinge,  under  an  unin- 
terrupted profusion  of  roses  and  blue-bells.  On  thi^  summit  of  one  of  these 
hills  we  commanded  on«;  of  the  few  extensive  prospects  we  had  ot  Lite  (;njoye«l. 
One  rang«!  of  heights  rose  behind  another,  each  becoming  fainter  as  it  receded 
from  the  eye,  till  the  furthest  was  blended  in  almost  undistinguishable  confusion 
with  the  clouds,  while  the  softi'st  vales  spread  a  panorama  of  hanging  copses 
and  glittering  lakes  at  our  feet." 

As  Cumberland  House  is  situated  north  of  the  valley  of  Swan  river,  upon 
the  Saskatchewan,  its  name  has  been  chosen  to  desiguati;  tlu;  district  between 
longitude  100°  and  105°  and  from  latitudes  52"  to  55"^^.  An  eoual  area  im- 
mediately south,  and  between  the  parallels  of  49^  and  52^,  is  no  less  attractive 
and  fertile. 


SASKATCHEWAN. 

There  remains,  from  longitude  105°  to  115°,  and  fronj  latittide  49°  to  55°,  the 
respective  valleys  of  the  North  and  South  Saskatchewan — ample  in  area  and 
resources  for  four  States  of  the  extent  of  Ohio.  I  propose  to  consider  the  whole 
interval  westward  from  the  junction  of  the  two  rivers  to  the  Rocky  moiuitains 
without  subdivision,  as,  indeed,  it  is  presented  by  Colton's  map  of  North 
America. 

The  prairie  districts  adjacent  to  the  South  Saskatchewan  are  described  by 
the  Canadian  explorers  as  inferior  to  tlu-  rich  alluvial  plains  of  the  Red  and 
Assiniboin  rivers ;  but  Sir  George  Simpson's  sketches  of  his  route  from  Fort 
Carleton  to  Fort  Edmonton  are  suggestive  of  a  superior  agricultural  region. 

An  authority  in  regard  to  the  more  western  portions  of  the  Saskatchewan  is 
Father  De  iimet,  the  devoted  Jesuit  missionary  to  the  Indians  of  Oregon,  men- 
tioned by  Governor  Stevens,  in  a  recent  address  before  the  New  York  Geo- 
graphical Society,  as  "  a  man  whose  name  is  )»  tower  of  strength  and  faith," 
possessing  high  scientitic  attainments  and  great  practical  knowledge  of  the 
country.  His  "Oregon  Missions"  is  a  publication  of  much  interest,  consisting 
of  letters  to  his  superiors;  and  a  portion  of  this  volume  narrates  his  explorations 
and  adventures  in  the  Saskatchewan  valleys  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1854,  he  left  the  source  of  the  Columbia  river  in  latitude  50°,  and 
crossed  the  Rocky  mountains,  descending  their  eastern  slope  in  latitude  51^. 
He  entered,  on  the  18th  of  September,  "a  rich  valley,  agreeably  diversified  with 
meadows,  forests,  and  lakes,  the  latter  abounding  in  salmon  trout."  This  was 
a  mountain  valley,  however,  and  it  was  not  till  three  days  afterwards  that  he 
reached  Bow  river,  on  the  south  of  the  Saskatchewan.  Thence  he  continued 
northward,  noticing  sulphurous  fountains  and  coal  on  the  Red  Deer,  a  branch 


62 


RELATIONS  b;:tween  the  united  states. 


m 


of  the  Bow  river.  Dci^cending'  the  valley  of  the  Red  Deer,  which  in  also 
(h  scribed  in  very  jjjlowing  terms,  at  leiif^th  ho  emerged  upon  what  ho  describes 
M  "the  vast  plain — the  ocean  of  praiiies." 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  the  missionary  reached  and  whs  hospitably 
received  at  the  Rocky  Mountain  House,  latituih-  53°,  and  longitude  11;V^,  and 
on  the  31st  October  started  for  another  journey  on  the  plains  ;  but  after  two 
weeks'  absence  was  compelled  to  s(!ek  refuge  from  the  approach  of  winter  (now 
the  middle  of  November)  at  Edmonton  House,  on  the  upj)er  .Saskatchewan. 
From  this  shelter  he  thus  writes  in  general  terms  : 

"  The  entire  region  in  the  vicinity  of  the  eastern  cliain  of  the  Rot  ky  moiuit- 
ains,  serving  as  their  base  for  thirty  or  sixty  miles,  is  extrejnely  fert'le,  abound- 
ing in  forests,  plains,  [irairies,  lakes,  streams,  and  mineral  springs.  'J^he  rivers 
and  streams  are  innumerable,  and  on  every  side  offer  situations  f  /orable  for  the 
construction  of  mills.  The  northern  and  southern  branches  of  the  Saskatche- 
wan water  tlie  district  I  have  tra.ersed  for  a  distance  of  about  three  hundred 
miles.  Forests  of  pine,  cypress,  tliom,  poplar,  and  aspen  trees,  as  well  as 
otliers  of  different  kinds,  occupy  a  la/ge  portion  (»f  it,  covering  the  declivities  of 
the  mountains  and  banks  of  the  rivers. 

"These  originally  lake  their  rise  in  the  highest  chains,  whence  they  issue  in 
every  direction  li'"-  so  many  veins.  The  beds  and  sides  of  these  rivers  are 
pebbly,  and  their  course  rapid,  but  as  they  recede  from  the  mountains  they 
widen,  and  the  currents  lose  something  of  their  impetuosity.  Their  waters  are 
usually  very  clear.  The  country  would  be  capable  of  supporting  a  large  popu- 
lation, and  the  soil  is  favorable  for  the  production  of  barley,  corn,  potatoes,  and 
beans,  which  grow  here  as  Avell  as  in  the  moi*e  southern  countries. 

"Are  these  vast  and  innumerable  fields  of  hay  forever  destined  to  be  con- 
sumed by  fire,  or  perish  in  the  autumnal  snows?  How  long  shall  these  superb 
forests  be  ihe  haunts  of  wild  beasts  ?  And  these  inexhaustible  quarries — these 
abundant  mines  of  coal,  lead,  suljihur,  iron,  copper,  and  saltpetre — can  it  be 
that  they  arv  doomed  to  remain  forever  isi  vctive?  Not  so.  The  day  will  come 
when  some  laboring  hand  will  give  them  value;  a  strong,  active,  and  enter- 
prising people  arc  destined  to  fill  th'vi  spacious  void.  The  wild  beasts  Avill,  ere 
long,  give  place  to  our  domestic  animals ;  flocks  and  herds  Avill  graze  in  the 
beautiful  meadows  that  border  the  numberless  mountains,  hills,  valleys,  and 
plains  of  this  extensive  region." 

Life  at  Edmonton  during  the  winter  season  is  thu3  sketched  : 

"  The  mimbev  of  servants,  including  children,  is  about  eighty.  Besides  a 
large  garden,  a  field  of  potatoes  and  wheat  belonging  to  the  establishment,  the 
lakes,  forests,  and  plains  <>f  the  neighborhood  furnish  provisions  in  abundance. 
On  my  amval  at  the  fort  the  ice-house  contained  thirty  thousand  white  fish, 
each  w(;ighing  four  pounds,  and  five  hundred  buffaloes — the  ordinary  amount 
of  the  winter  provisions.  Such  is  the  quantity  of  aquatic  birds  in  the  season, 
that  sportsmen  often  send  to  the  fort  carts  full  of  fowls.  Eggs  «»re  picked  iip 
by  thousands  in  the  straw  .md  weeds  of  the  marshes.  1  visited  Lake  St.  Anne, 
a  missionary  station  fifty  miles  northv/est  from  Edmonton.  The  surface  of  this 
region  is  flat  for  the  most  part,  undulating  in  some  places,  diversified  with 
forests  and  meadows,  and  lakes  teeming  with  fish.  In  Lake  St.  Anne  ^alone 
were  caught,  last  autumn,  more  than  seventy,  thousand  white  fish,  the  most 
delicious  of  the  kind.     They  are  taken  with  a  line  at  every  season  of  the  year. 

"Notwithstanding  the  rigor  and  duration  of  the  winter  in  this  northern 
region,  the  earth,  in  general,  appears  fertile.  Vegetation  is  so  formed  in  the 
spring  and  summer  that  potatoes,  wheat,  and  barley,  together  with  other  vege- 
tables of  Canada,  come  to  maturity." 

On  the  12th  of  March  Father  De  Smet  started  on  his  return  trip,  proceeding 
with  sledges  drawn  by  do^,.  over  the  snow  to  Fct  Jasper,  situated  northwest 


AND   NORTHWEST    BRITISH   AMERICA. 


6» 


from  Edmonton,  on  the  AthabnHcn  river,  lialf  a  dofj^reo  north  of  latitude  54°. 
Here  occurred  the  followinf;;  hnntinj^  adventure  : 

"  I'rovisions  ln'cominjfj  Hcarce  at  the  fort  at  tlie  moment  when  we  had  with  us 
}>  considerabh;  number  of  Iroquois  from  tlie  surrounding  country,  who  were 
rertolved  to  remain  until  my  d«'parture,  in  ord<'r  to  nnn'm  at  the  instructions,  we 
sliouhl  hav«^  found  ourselves  in  an  embarrassing  situation  had  not  Mr.  Frazer 
come  to  our  relief  by  proposing  that  wo  should  leave  the  fort  and  accompany 
himself  and  family  to  tin;  Lake  of  Islands,  where  Ave  could  subsist  partly  on 
fish.  As  the  distance  was  not  great,  we  accepted  tlie  invitation,  and  set  out,  to 
the  number  of  tifty-four  persons  and  twenty  dogs ;  I  count  the  latter  because 
we  Avere  as  much  obliged  to  provide  for  them  as  for  ourselves.  A  little  note  of 
the  game  killed  by  our  hunters,  during  the  twenty-six  days  of  our  abode  at  this 
place,  will  afford  you  some  interest ;  at  least,  it  will  make  you  acquainted  with 
the  animals  of  the  country,  and  prove  that  the  mountaineers  of  the  Athabasca 
are  blessed  with  good  appetites.  Animals  killed  :  twelve  moose  deer,  two  rein- 
deer, thirty  large  mountain  sheep,  or  big-horn,  two  porcupines,  two  hundred  and 
ten  hares,  one  beaver,  ten  niuskrats,  twenty-four  bustards,  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  ducks,  twenty-one  pheasants,  one  snipe,  one  eagle,  one  owl ;  add  to  this 
from  thirty  to  fifty-live  white  fish  and  twenty  trout  every  day." 

ATHABASCA. 

The  valleys  of  the  Peace  and  Athabasca  rivers,  eastward  of  the  Rocky  mount- 
ains, from  latitude  55°,  share  the  Pacific  climate  in  a  remarkable  degree.  The 
Rocky  mountains  are  greatly  reduced  in  breadth  and  mean  elevation,  and  through 
the  numerous  passes  between  their  lofty  peaks  the  winds  of  the  Pacific  reach 
the  district  in  question.  Hence  it  is  that  Sir  Alexander  McKenzie,  under  the 
date  of  May  10,  mentions  the  exuberant  verdure  of  the  whole  country — trees 
about  to  blossom,  and  buffalo  attended  by  their  young.  During  the  late  par- 
liamentary investigation  similar  statements  Avere  elicited.  Dr.  Richard  King, 
who  accompanied  an  expedition  in  search  of  Sir  John  Ross  as  surgeon  and 
naturalist,  Avas  asked  what  portion  of  the  country  visited  by  him  Avas  valuable 
for  the  purpose  of  settlement.  In  reply,  he  described,  "as  a  very  fertile  A'alley," 
a  "square  piece  of  country,"  bounded  on  the  south  by  Cumberland  House,  and, 
by  the  Athabasca  lake  on  the  north.     His  Avords  are  as  folloAvs  : 

"  The  sources  of  th(i  Athabasca  and  tlu^  sources  of  the  Saskatchewan  include 
an  enormous  area  of  country.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  vast  piece  of  land  surrounded  by 
Avater.  When  I  heard  Dr.  Livingstone's  description  of  the  country  Avhich  he 
found  in  the  interior  ol'  Africa,  within  the  equator,  it  appiiared  to  me  to  be  pre- 
cisely the  kind  of  country  Avhich  I  am  now  describing.  *  *  *  It  is  a  rich 
soil,  interspersed  Avitli  Avell-Avooded  country,  there  being  growth  of  every  kind, 
and  the  whole  vegetable  kingdom  alive." 

When  asked  concerning  mineral  productions,  his  reply  Avas :  "  I  do  not  know 
of  any  other  mineral  except  limestone  ;  limestone  is  apparent  in  all  directions. 
*  *  The  birch,  the  beech,  and  the  maple  are  in  abundance,  and  there  is 
every  sort  of  fruit."  When  questioiu'd  further  as  to  the  growth  of  trees,  Dr. 
King  replied  by  a  comparison  Avith  "  the  magnificent  trees  around  Kensington 
park,  in  London."  He  described  a  farm  near  Cumberland  House  under  very 
successful  cultivation — luxuriant  Avheat,  potatoes,  barley,  and  domestic  animals. 

A  suitable  supplement  to  these  statements  is  found  in  the  impressive  language 
of  a  writer  in  the  Knickerbocker  Magazine  for  October,  1858 : 

"  Here  is  the  great  fact  of  the  northAV(!Stern  areas  of  this  continent.  An  area 
not  inferi,>r  in  size  to  the  Avhole  United  States  east  of  the  Mississippi,  which  is 
perfectly  adapted  to  the  fullest  occupation  by  cultivated  nations,  yet  is  almost 
Avholly  unoccupied,  lies  west  of  the  9Stli  meridian,  and  above  the  43d  parallel — 
that  is,  north  of  the  latitude  of  Milwaukie  and  west  of  the  longitude  of  Red 


u 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN    THE   UNITED   STATES 


River,  Fort  Kearney,  and  Corpus  Christi ;  or,  to  state  the  fact  in  another  way, 
cast  of  the  Rocky  mountains  and  west  of  the  98th  meridian,  and  between  the 
43d  and  60th  parallels,  there  is  a  productive,  cultivable  area  of  500,000  aquare 
miles.  West  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  and  between  the  same  parallels,  there 
is  an  area  of  300,000  square  miles. 

It  is  a  great  mistake  to  suppose  that  the  temperature  of  the  Atlantic  coast  is 
carried  straight  across  the  continent  to  the  Pacific.  Th(;  isothermals  deflect 
greatly  to  the  north,  and  the  temperatures  of  the  northern  Pacific  are  paralleled 
in  the  high  temperatures  in  high  latitudes  of  western  and  central  Europe.  The 
latitudes  which  enclose  the  plateaus  of  the  Missouri  and  Saskatchewan  in 
Europe  enclose  the  rich  central  plains  of  the  continent.  The  great  grain-grow- 
ing districts  of  Russia  lie  between  the  45th  and  60th  parallels ;  that  is,  north  of 
the  latitudes  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  or  Eastport,  Maine.  Indeed,  the  tempera- 
ture in  some  instances  is  higher  for  the  same  latitudes  here  than  in  central 
Europe.  The  isothcn-mal  of  10°  for  the  summer,  which  on  our  plateau  ranges 
from  along  latitude  50°  to  52^,  in  J]urope  skirts  through  Vienna  and  Odessa  in 
about  parallel  46'^.  The  isothermal  of  55^  for  the  yenv  runs  along  the  coast  of 
British  Columbia,  and  does  not  go  far  from  New  York,  London,  and  Sebastopol. 
Eurthermore,  dry  areas  are  not  found  above  47°,  and  there  are  no  barren  tracts 
■of  consequence  north  of  the  Bad  Lands  and  the  Coteau  of  the  Missouri.  The 
land  grows  grain  finely,  and  is  well  wooded.  All  the  grains  of  the  temperatv, 
districts  are  here  produced  abundantly,  and  Indian  corn  may  be  grown  as  high 
as  the  Saskatchewan. 

"  The  buffalo  winter  as  safely  on  the  upper  Athabasca  as  in  the  latitude  of 
St.  Paul,  and  the  spring  opens  at  nearly  the  same  time  along  the  immense  line 
of  plains  from  St.  Paul  to  Mackenzie's  river.  To  these  facts,  for  which  there  is 
the  authority  of  Blodgett's  Treatise  on  the  Climatology  of  the  United  States, 
may  be  added  this,  that  to  the  region  bordering  the  northern  Pacific  the  finest 
maritime  positions  belong  throughout  its  entire  extent,  and  no  part  of  the  west 
•of  Europe  exceeds  it  in  the  advantages  of  equable  climate,  fertile  soil,  and  com- 
mercial accessibility  of  coast.  We  havt;  the  same  excellent  authority  for  the 
statement  that  in  every  condition  forming  the  basis  of  national  wealth  the  con- 
tinental mass  lying  westward  and  northward  from  Lake  Superior  is  far  more 
valuable  than  the  interior  in  lower  latitudes,  of  which  Salt  Lake  and  upper  New 
Mexico  are  the  prominent  kno\vii  districts.  In  short,  its  commercial  and  indus- 
trial capacity  is  gigantic.  Its  occupation  was  coeval  with  the  Spanish  occupation 
■of  New  Mexico  and  California.  The  Hudson  Bay  Company  has  preserved  it 
an  utter  wilderness  for  many  long  years.  The  Erazer  river  discoveries  and 
emigration  are  facts  which  the  company  cannot  crush.  Itself  must  go  to  the 
wall,  and  the  population  of  the  great  northwestern  area  begins." 

I  add  a  briefer  synopsis  of  the  corresponding  districts  west  of  the  Rocky 
mountains,  mostly  compiled  from  the  results  of  the  parliamentary  inquiry  into 
the  affairs  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 

vaxcouver's  island. 

This  island  is  fertile,  well  timbered,  diversified  by  intersecting  mountain 
ranges,  and  small  prairies,  with  extensive  coal  fields,  compared  to  the  West 
Riding  of  Yorkshire  coal,  and  fort'mate  in  its  harbors.  Esquimaux  harbor,  on 
which  Victoria  is  situated,  is  equal  to  San  Francisco.  The  salmon  and  othcu- 
fisheries  are  excellent,  but  this  advantage  is  shared  by  every  stream  and  inlet 
of  the  adjacent  coast.  As  to  the  climate,  the  winter  is  stormy,  with  heavy 
rains  in  November  and  December;  frosts  occur  in  January,  but  seldom  inter- 
rupt agriculture ;  vegetation  starts  in  February,  progressing  rapidly  in  March, 
and  fostered  by  alt<n-nate  warm  showers  and  sunshine  in  April  and  May,  while 
intense  heat  and  drought  are  often  experienced  during  June,  July,  and  August. 


AND   NORTHWEST   BRITISH    AMERICA. 


06 


. 


Tho  ialnnd  1ms  an  area  of  16,200  square  miles,  or  as  large  as  Vermont  and  New 
Hampshire. 

FRAZKU    A\D   THOMPSON    ItlVHKS. 

Northward  of  Vancouver  the  mountains  .n  m1  so  near  the  Taeilie  as  to 
ohstruct  intercourse  Avitli  the  interior,  hiit  "  ni.-.uie,"  to  use  the  lunfjuaj^e  of  a 
witness,  "  it  is  a  line  open  country."  This  is  the  vaHey  of  Frazer  river.  As- 
cending this  river,  near  Fort  Liingley,  "  a  large  tract  of  liuul "  is  represented 
as  "adapted  to  colonis*s;"  while  of  Thompson  river  the  same  witness  says 
that  "it  is  one  of  the  I'lost  heautiful  countries  in  the  world;"  elimal(^  capable 
of  producing  all  the  croj)s  of  England  and  nuich  milder  than  Canada.  The 
sources  of  Frazer  river,  in  latitude  lift_^  live  degrees,  an;  separated  from  those 
of  I'eace  river,  which  flows  through  the  llocky  mountains  eastwardly  into  the 
Athahasea,  hy  the  distance  of  only  317  yards. 

SOURCKS    OF    TIlFi;    COI.riMHIA. 

I  suppose  that  no  portion  of  the  continent  is  so  little  known,  and  still  so 
attractive  in  aM  its  natural  featiires  and  resources,  as  tlu^  district  which  is  watered 
by  the  Upper  Columbia  and  its  tributary,  the  JNlcCJillivray  or  Flatbow  river. 
David  Thompson,  in  1807,  selected  the  source  of  the  Columbia  as  a  siti;  of  a 
ti-ading  post  with  Kootanais  or  Flatbow  Indians,  Since  that  date  these  Indians 
have  made  sensible  jjrogress  to  civilization  under  the  influence  of  the  Oregon 
missions,  as  also  hav(!  other  more  southern  tribes  on  tin;  western  slope  of  the 
Rocky  mountains.  Indeed,  the  relations  of  their  missionary  bishop,  Fatlu^r  De 
Smet,  constitute  a  most  glowing  sketch  of  the  oval  district  betwiuni  Flatbow 
river  and  the  Upper  Columbia,  and  which  nuist  have  an  extent  of  20,000  square 
miles. 

I  select  some  passages  of  description  by  De  Smet,  aft(!r  passing  north  of  the 
boundary  in  latitude  forty-nine  d"grees  : 

"  Advancing  toward  the  territory  of  the  Kootanais,  -wo,  were  (niehanti^d  with 
the  beautiful  and  diversified  scenery.  *  *  *  An  extensive  plain  at  the  base 
of  the  Portage  mountain  (probably  near  tin;  west(!rn  extremity  of  the  Kootanais 
Pass)  presents  every  advantage  for  the  formation  of  a  city.  Tin;  mountains 
surrounding  this  agreeable  site  are  majestic  and  picturesrjut!.  'J'h(!y  forcibly 
recalled  to  my  memory  the  Mapacho  mountains  that  (mcompass  the  beautiful 
capital  of  Chili,  (Santiago.)  »  #  *  The  quarries  and  fo'<!sts  are  inexhaust- 
ible, and,  having  remarked  large  pieces  of  coal  along  tin?  riv«!r,  I  am  convinced 
that  this  fossil  could  be  abundantly  procured.  Gnjat  quantities  of  lead  are 
found  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  and,  from  tin;  appearance  of  its  superior 
quality,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  there  may  be  some  mixture  of  silv<;r.  *  *  • 
After  a  few  days'  journey  we  arrived  at  tlu^  Prairie  du  Tabac,  the  usual  abode 
of  ihc  Kootanais.  Their  camp  is  situated  in  an  immense  and  de'lightful  valley, 
bounded  by  two  eminences,  which,  from  their  genth;  and  regular  declivity, 
appear  to  have  originally  bounded  an  extensive  lake;.  *  *  *  'I'hence  1 
journeyed  on  towards  the  sources  of  the  (Joiumbi^v.  The;  country  we  trav(;rsed 
Avas  highly  picturesque,  and  agreeably  diversified  by  beautifid  j)rairi<!S,  smiling 
valleys  and  lakes,  surrounded  by  heavy  and  solemn  pines,  gracefully  waving 
their  flexible  branches.  We  also  crossed  dark  alpiiu;  forests,  when;  tin;  sound 
of  the  axe  has  nevcu-  resounded.  *  *  *  (Jn  tin;  4th  of  September  1  found 
myself  at  the  source  of  the  Columbia. 

"  When  emigration,  accompanied  by  industry,  the  arts,  and  scienccis,  shall 
have  penetrated  the  numberless  valleys  of  the  Kocky  mountains,  the  source  of 
the  Columbia  will  prove?  a  very  important  point.  'I'lie  climate  is  dcilightful ; 
the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  are  seldom  known.  The  snow  disappears  as  fast 
as  it  falls  ;  the  laborious  hand  that  would  till  these  valh;ys  would  be  repaid  a 


66  RELATIONS    METWEP^N    THE    UNITED    STATES 

hundrofl-fold.  Iinimncnildo  iH'nls  could  f>;rnzo  tlirouf,'hont  tlio  year  in  these 
mciidowH,  when;  the  KourceH  and  f^trcanirt  nurture  a  iH-rpotual  tVeshnesH  and 
abundance.  Tliej^e  hillocks  and  dcclivitieH  of  tin;  mountains  arc  generally 
studded  wifh  inexliau^'tible  forests,  in  whieli  the  birch  tn-e,  pine  of  different 
species,  cedar,  and  cypress  abound.  *  *  *  TIk^  advantages  nature  seems 
to  have  besi(>w«;d  on  the  soince  of  the  Columbia  will  render  its  geographical 
position  v(!ry  important  at  sonic;  future  day.  The  magic  hand  of  civilized  man 
would  transform  it  into  a  terrestrial  paradise." 

It  is  an  iuter<!sting  coincidence  that  Dv  Smet  ])ublished  in  a  St.  Louis  paper, 
in  1H58,  a  similar  description  of  this  region,  adding  that  it  could  be  reached 
from  Salt  J.aU(!  City  along  the  western  base;  of  the  Rocky  mountains  with 
wagons,  and  that  Jirigham  Young  woidd  lead  a  ^lormon  exodus  to  tlu;  vicinity 
of  1'ortag(!  mountain.  The  fact  that  the;  iMormons  had  established  a  flourishing 
half-way  post  on  the  Salmon  riv(!r,  a  branch  of  the  Cobunbia,  gave  an  aspect 
of  ])robability  to  1)(!  Sniet's  prediction;  but,  so  far,  events  have  not  developed 
such  a  niovement  by  the  Mormon  hierarchy. 

IMF.    AKCriK;    DISTRICTS. 

The  district  of  British  America  west  of  the  lakes  Avhich,  by  .soil  and  climate, 
are  suitable  for  agricultural  settlements,  1  (istimatc  as  follows: 

Hquare  inile'j. 

Vancouver's  island 16,  200 

Frazer  and  Thompson  rivers 60,  000 

Sources  of  Columbia 20,  000 

Athabasca  district 50,  000 

Saskatchewan,  lied  lliver,  Assiuiboin,  &c 3G0,  000 

506, 200 


This  area  would  constitute  twelve  States  of  the  size  of  Ohio. 

All  of  British  America,  without  these  divisions,  is  surrendered  to  the  sterility 
of  an  Arctic  climate ;  but  the  absence  of  agi-iculture  may  be  compensated  by 
mineral  resources.  This  will  appear  from  a  general  survey  of  the  geology  and 
mineral  features  over  tlu;  Avhole  territory  formerly  occupied  by  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company.* 

GKOLOGV,  MINERAL    WEALTH,  ETC. 

From  the  shore  of  Lake  Superior  to  the  eastern  bank  of  Lake  Winnipeg, 
the  geological  formation  is  that  of  the  crystalline  rocks,  a  system  which  is  not 
generally  favorable  to  agriculture,  although  hei*e  and  there  many  fertile  spots 
are  to  be  found.  This  comparatively  sterile  region  extends  northward  to  the 
Arctic  sea,  Lake  Athabasca  and  Ci-eat  Slave  lake  being  situated  on  its  most 
westerly  limit.  To  the  westward  of  these  lakes  and  Lake  Winnipeg,  and  be- 
tween them  neaidy  to  the  Rocky  mountains,  the  whole  territory  is  of  the  Silurian 
and  d(!vonian  formations,  both  eminently  favorable  to  agriculture,  the  former 
prevailing  throughout  the  fertile  peninsula  of  Upper  Canada.  At  its  base,  the 
Silurian  deposits  range  a  thousand  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  extend  about  fi  re 
hundred  miles  to  the  northward,  Avhere  the  devonian  connnences  and  continues 
to  the  Arctic  sea.      It  is  this  part  of  the  territory  through  which  the  Saskatch- 


•^  A  {;i()li)gical  nmp,  with  an  accompany in,i?  inonioir  by  I'lotessor  Isbister,  of  London,  a 
native  of  lUui  lliver  st'ttli'uiont,  is  tiiu  auMioiity  for  tlie  statoiueuts  iu  regard  to  the  geology 
and  mineral  wealtli  of  Northwest  Ihitish  Amerim. 


AND   NORTHWEST   BU1TI8U   AMERICA. 


6T 


ewnn  and  the  Mackenzie  rivers  flow,  wliieli  is  so  lii«;lily  praised  Cor  llie  fertility 
of  its  prairie  lands.  Al)out  one  lumdred  and  lifty  niil«'s  east  ot  tlie  Koeky 
mountains  tlie  jireat  eoal  lied  eonunenns,  whieli  j^ives  our  territory  ^.o  };r»«at  an 
advanta<^«i  o\rr  that  wliieli  lies  to  tlie  south.  So  far  as  lias  yet  lieen  aseertaine*!, 
it  is  over  iiliy  uules  in  widtli.  and  extends  eontiuuously  over  sixteiii  dejjrees  of 
latitude,  to  the  Arctie  oeeau. 

The  ditiieulty  of  deeidiu};-  upon  the  a;:;e  of  the  beds  tlirou;;li  which  the  lower 
part  of  Mackenzie  river  Hows  is  increased  hy  the  occurreiu-e  anion};-  them  of  a 
lignite  formation,  covered  in  parts  hy  deep  hviU  of  sand,  capped  l»y  houhh-rs 
and  gravel.  The  soft  friahle  shales  foruiiiig  the  hank  of  the  river  near  its  ter- 
mination in  the  Arctic  sea  are  also  stmngly  inipregnated  with  alum.  'I'hese 
aluminous  shales  cover  a  large  portion  of  the  delta  of  Mackeii/.ie  rixcr,  are  «'on- 
tinned  along  the  hanks  of  Peel's  river  to  the  foot  of  tlu'  Koeky  uionniains,  and 
have  he<>ii  traced  lor  a  considerahle  distance  along  the  coast,  and  also  along  the 
shores  of  (Jreat  liear  lake.  The  aluminous  shale  is  ccaistantly  associated  with 
the  hitununous  formation  into  which  it  often  passes. 

The  lignite  formation  is  still  more  extensively  developed;  and  as  tin-  o<'cnr- 
rencc!  of  coal  in  any  form  in  these  high  latitudes  is  a  ((uestiou  of  much  interest, 
1  shall  here  state  briefly  the  results  of  Sir  .John  Richardson's  ol)ser\atioiis  and 
in«^uiries  on  the  subject,  to  which  he  has  given  much  attention. 

The  j\[ackenzie  traverses  very  obli(|uely  tin;  basin  in  which  the  lignite  iorma- 
tion  is  deposited,  while  Bear  ]iake  river  cuts  it  more  directly  across;  and  it  is  at 
tlie  junction  of  these  two  streams  that  the  formation  is  best  exposed.  It  tln'nj 
consists  of  a  series  of  beds,  the  thickest  of  which  exceeds  thn'c  yards,  separated 
by  layers  of  grav(d  and  sand,  alternating  with  a  fine-grained  friable  sandstone, 
and  sometimes  with  thick  beds  of  clay,  tlie  interjiosing  layers  being  «tften  dark 
from  the  dissemination  of  bituminous  matter.  "TIh^  coal  when  recently  ex- 
tracted from  the  bed,"  says  Sir  tJohu  Richardson,  "is  massive,  and  m<»st  gene- 
rally shows  the  woody  structui'c  distinctly;  the  beds  aj)pearing  to  be  conip<»s<;d 
of  pretty  large  trmiks  of  trees,  lying  horizontally  and  having  their  woody  fibres 
and  layers  much  tAvisted  and  contorted,  similar  to  the  white  spruce;  now  growing 
in  exposed  situations  in  the  same  latitude.  Specimens  of  this  coal,  examined  by 
Mr.  liowerbank,  were  pronounced  by  him  to  b<!  decidedly  of  conifinrous  origin, 
and  the  structure  of  the  wood  to  be  more  lik(!  that  of  Pin//s  than  Aiancaria ; 
but  on  this  latter  point  he  was  not  certain.  It  is  })robable  that  the  examination 
of  a  greater  variety  of  8p(!cimens  would  detect  several  kinds  of  wood  in  tin; 
coal,  as  a  bed  of  fossil  leaves,  connected  with  tlu;  formation,  rev(!als  the  exist(!nc(! 
at  the  time  of  various  dicotyledonous  trees,  probably  Accrinr/',  and  one  of  which 
appears  to  belong  to  the  yew  tribe."  *  *  *  "I)ifi(;r(!nt  b(;ds,  and  even  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  same  bed,  when  traced  to  thi;.  distance  «tf  a  few  hundred 
yards,  present  examples  of  '  fibnuis  brown  coal,'  'earth  coal,'  'comdioidal  brown 
coal,'  and  ' tivapezoidal  brown  coal.'  Somi;  beds  hav(!  the  ext(;rnal  characters  of 
a  compact  bitumen,  but  they  generally  exhibit  on  the  cnjss  fracture  concentric 
layers,  although  from  their  jet-like  comjiosition  the  natun;  «)f  tin;  woody  fibres 
cannot  be  detected  by  the  microscope.  Some  pi(!ces  have  a  strong  resomblatuM? 
to  charcoal  in  structure;,  color,  and  lustre.  Very  fre(|uently  the  coal  may  be 
named  a  'bituminous  slate,'  of  whicli  it  has  many  of  the  lithological  characters, 
but  on  examination  with  a  lens  it  is  seen  to  be  composed  of  commiimtiid  woody 
matter  mixed  with  clay  and  small  imbedded  fragments  resembling  charred  wood. 
From  the  readiness  with  whicli  the  coal  takes  fire  spontaneously,  the  beds  an; 
destroyed  as  they  become  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  and  the  bank  is  constantly 
cnimbling  down,  so  that  it  is  only  when  the  debris  has  been  washed  away  by 
the  river  that  good  s(!ctions  an;  exjiosed." 

Formations  similar  to  that  found  on  Mackenzie  river  (;xtend  southward  along 
the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  as  far  as  tin;   Saskatchewan   river. 

Sir  John  Richardson  gives  a  detailed  account  of  the  various  localities  between 


68 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN    THE   UNITED   STATES. 


\i 


I 


these  two  i»oint8  in  which  hods  of  coal  liavo  heon  exposed,  all  pointing  to  the 
exlHtence  of  n  vast  coal  field,  skirting  the  haHo  of  the  Rocky  nionntainw  f<jr  a 
very  great  extent,  and  contiinuul  probiihly  far  into  tln^  Arctic  8ea,  wlu're,  as  is 
well  known,  lignite  ap|)arently  of  a  similar  character  has  recently  been  discovered 
by  Captain  McClnre  in  the  same  general  line  with  the  localities  above  mentioned. 
In  the  coal  of  Jam(!Son  J^and,  lying  in  north  latitude  71°,  (on  th«i  east  side  of 
Gretinland,)  and  in  that  of  Melville  island,  in  latitude  7/3°  north,  Professor 
Jameson  found  plants  resembling  those  of  tin;  coal  measures  of  Britain,  and 
similar  remains  lun'e  been  more  recently  discovt^red  by  Mr.  Dana  in  the  coal 
fi(!lds  of  Oregon  and  \'ancouv(!r's  island.  These  facts  are  sufficient  of  them- 
selves, as  is  remarked  by  Hir  John  llichardson,  to  rais«'  a  world  of  conjecture 
respecting  the  condition  of  the  (,'arth  when  thcise  ancient  fossils  wen;  living 
plants.  If  the  great  coal  measures,  containing  similar  vegetable  forms,  were 
deposited  at  the  same  epoch  in  distant  localities,  there  must  have  exist(Ml  when 
that  deposition  took  places  a  similarity  of  condition  of  the  North  America  con- 
tinent from  latitude  75°  down  to  45° 

The  importance  of  this  coal  field  i>i  connexion  with  the  construction  and 
working  of  a  Pacific  railway  can  hardly  be  overestimated.  Heyond  the  Rocky 
mountains  the  geology  of  the  territory  is  not  so  well  known.  There  are  ranges 
of  mountains,  (Laurentian,)  but  they  are  interspersed  with  great  vallosys,  very 
favorable  for  agriculture  and  heavily  timbered. 

While  the  geologist  has  found  in  his  researches  many  proofs  of  the  wealth  of 
the  northwest  territory,  the  mineralogist  has  not  been  far  behhid  him.  Almost 
from  the  landi'jj;  upon  the  shores  of  Hudson  bay  of  the  first  fur-traders,  the 
country  has  bec.i  repres(mt(!d  as  rich  in  minerals.  Shortly  after  the  Hudson 
Bay  Co.i^paiiy  formed  establishments  there,  two  of  their  officers,  Caruthers  and 
Norton,  in  a  journey  along  the  western  shores  of  the  bay,  were  informed  by  the 
Indians  that  ricli  mines  of  copper  existed  in  that  direction :  and  Dobbs,  in  his 
"Account  of  the  countries  adjoining  to  Hudson  bay,"  published  in  London,  in 
1744,  says  that  he  learned  from  Mr.  Frost,  who  had  been  stationed  for  a  long 
period  at  several  of  the  factories  upon  the  Hudson  bay,  that  "  upon  the  east 
main,"  (the  eastern  side  of  the  bay,)  "which  had  lately  been  discovered,  there  is 
an  exceedingly  rich  lead  mine,  from  which  the  natives  brought  very  good  ore." 
Dobbs  also  speaks  of  the  rich  copper  mines  north  of  Churchill,  situated  upon 
the  other  side  of  the  bay.  By  the  evidence  of  Robert  Griffin,  a  silversmith, 
for  five  years  resident  at  Hudson  bay,  taken  in  1749  before  the  committee  of 
inquiry  of  the  House  of  Commons  into  the  condition  of  the  territory,  alluded  to 
by  Mr.  Robson,  it  appears  that  the  former  tested  the  ore  brought  from  the  east 
main,  which  he  declared  to  contain  lead ;  that  he  remembered  several  quantities 
of  this  ore  being  brought  thence,  from  one  to  fifteen  pounds  weight,  and  that  he 
learned  from  the  Indians  that  it  existed  in  abundance  in  the  interior  of  the  east 
main. 

Sir  Alexander  Mackenzie,  in  the  course  of  his  journeys  to  the  Arctic  sea 
and  the  Pacific  ocean,  in  1789  and  1793,  respectively,  saw  "beautiful  pieces 
of  variegated  marble,  found  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  by  the  Chcpewyan  In- 
dians, which  is  easily  worked,  bears  a  fine  polish,  hardens  with  time,  and  bears 
heat."  This  marble  he  saw  in  the  country  between  the  sixtieth  and  sixty-fifth 
parallels.  "Among  the  stoney  flake-like  slate,"  on  the  banks  of  the  Mackenzie, 
he  discoA-ered  "  pieces  of  petroleum,  which  bears  a  resemblance  to  yellow  wax;" 
and  the  Indians  informed  him  that  "  rocks  of  a  similar  kind  were  scattered 
about  the  country  at  the  back  of  Slave  lake,  where  the  Chepewyans  collect 
copper."  All  the  Indians  whom  he  met  had  either  copper  or  iron  tops  to  their 
spears,  and  near  the  river  of  Bear  lake  he  met  with  lumps  of  iron  ore  and 
springs  of  mineral  water.  Along  the  course  of  the  Mackenzie,  as  far  as  6G° 
north  latitude,  and  also  in  the  Rocky  mountains  in  56°  north  latitude  and  120° 


^ 


AND   NORTHWEST   URITISH    AMERICA. 


69 


wost  longitude,  he  discovered  coal  and  bitumen,  and  on  the  Peace  river,  a  south- 
western branch  of  the  Mackenzie,  he  discovered  several  Halt  Hpriiij^s. 

During  the  first  and  8ec<»nd  expedition  whicli  he  connnanded  along  the  Arctic 
shores  of  the  continent  and  among  its  islands,  Parry  tound,  at  iAIelville  island, 
Hint,  coal,  ironstonis  madrepore,  and  sand  of  n  greenish  color;  at  Southampton 
island,  a  quantity  of  magnetic  ironstone ;  near  Lyon  inlet,  epidote ;  at  Ked 
Point,  hijjis  ollaris  and  a  piece  of  asbestos  ;  at  Kende/-vous  island,  Yom>  (juartz, 
ledum  palustre,  ironstone,  and  graphite ;  along  most  of  the  beaches,  rocks  abso- 
lutely studded  with  garnets  of  a  ch-ar  and  lirilliant  color;  at  Winter  island, 
sev«?ral  fine  .jiecin-.ens  of  madrepon',  some  curious  pieces  of  steatite,  (soap- 
stone,)  fine  specimens  of  asbestos  and  octynolite ;  on  the  mainland,  opposite  to 
Bouv<'rie  island,  some  verdigris  substance  among  reddish  sandstone,  variegat»'d 
with  ser|»entine ;  and  at  Liddon  island  a  species  of  ironstone,  which,  from  its 
weight,  appeared  to  be  a  rich  ore,  a  good  deal  of  asbestos,  black  slate,  and 
indications  of  coal. 

During  liis  second  voyage  for  the  discovery  of  the  northwest  passage  Sir 
John  lloss  observ«'d  copjicr  ore  and  agate  at  Agnew  river,  and  gypsum,  red 
marl,  a  rock  studded  with  garnets,  and  white,  pink,  and  yellow  quartz,  at 
Elizabeth  hai'bor. 

Franklin  and  Richardson,  in  their  joint  expeditions  through  the  heart  of  the 
territory  and  along  its  Arctic  shores,  discovered,  on  the  banks  of  Hill  river, 
beds  of  quartz  rocks  containing  precious  garnets,  also  mica  slate;  at  Knee 
lake,  primitive  greenstone!  with  disseminated  iron  pyrites ;  at  'I'rout  river,  mag- 
n(!tic  iron  ore  and  well-crystallized  })recious  garn(;ts ;  at  J^ake  Winnipeg,  a 
beautiful  china-like  chert,  and  "  arenaceous  deposits  and  rocks  having  a  close 
resemblance  to  those  of  Pigeon  bay,  of  Lake  Superior,  wluM-e  argentiferous 
veins  occur;"  at  Cumberland  House,  on  the  Saskatchewan,  salt  aiul  sulphur 
springs  and  coal;  at  Elk  river,  bitumen  in  such  quantity  as  to  How  in  streams 
from  fissures  in  the  rock ;  upon  the  shores  of  Lake  Athabasca,  the  finest 
plumbago  and  chlorite  slate:. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  Sir  R.  Miu'chison,  Sir  John  Richardson  says  that 
'*  towards  the  month  of  the  Coppermine  river  there  are  magnificent  ranges  of 
trap,  with  ores  of  lead  and  copper,  including  much  malachite."  He  also  states 
that  a  rolled  piece  of  chromate  of  iron  was  jiicked  up  then;,  "  which  is  a  min(;ral 
very  valuable  on  account  of  the  beautiful  pignKMits  which  are  manufactxn-ed 
from  it."  From  the  llocky  mountains  Sir  John  Richardson  obtained  a  specimen 
of  a  pearl-grey  semi-opal,  resembling  obsidian  :  also  sonui  plumbago  and  specular 
iron.  Referring  to  the  country  about  Slave  river,  he  says  :  "  'I'lie  great  quan- 
tity of  gypsum  in  iunnediate  connexion  with  extremely  copious  and  rich  salt 
springs,  ami  the  great  abundance  of  j)etroleum  in  this  formation,  tf)gether  with 
the  arenaceous,  soft,  marly,  and  breeciatetl  beds  ()f  dolomite,  and,  above  all,  the 
circumstance  of  the  latter  being  by  far  the  most  common  and  extensive  rock  in 
the  deposit,  led  me  to  think  that  the  limestone  of  the  Elk  and  Slave  rivers  was 
equivalent  to  the  sechstein  of  the  continental  geologist."  The  salt  springs, 
situated  further  to  the;  south,  from  which  large  quantities  of  pure  conmion  salt 
are  deposited.  Sir  John  Richardson  classes  as  belonging  to  the  celebrated  Onon- 
daga salt  group  of  the  New  York  Helderberg  series.  By  Sir  AVilliiim  Logan's 
report  it  appears  that  from  the  latter  springs  "  no  less  than  3,131,317  bushels 
of  salt  were  profitably  manufactured  in  1851."  From  tlu;  many  valuable  salt 
springs  which  exist  throughout  the  Hiulson  Bay  territory  the  finest  salt  could 
be  obtained,  which  artich;  would  of  itself  become  a  considerabU;  source  of  wealth 
were  the  country  occupied  by  settlers  in  any  number,  and  were  the  valuable  and 
varied  fisheries  of  its  coast  and  rivers  pros-ecuted  to  any  extent. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  specimens  which  wen^  collected  by  Captain 
Back  in  his  journey  from  Great  Slave  lake,  down  the  Great  Fish  river,  to  the 
Arctic  sea,  in   1834  :  Loose  worn  pebbles  of  bluish-gray  chalcedony,  brown 


70 


RELATIONS    HETWEEN    THE    UNITED    STATES. 


jnsprr,  iiiul  frnjifmoiits  of  a  conglomorato,  conHistinf;  of  portionp  of  rrddinli  jiifpor, 
flinty  slate,  and  (jUiirtz  of  variouH  Iiuch  of  fj;ray  and  brown,  a  vari('|j:atrd  mail  of 
a  gr('«!nish-|j;ray  color. 

( )f  the  mineral  Avealth  of  a  larj^e  portion  of  the  territory  Sir  Jolm  Ricliardson 
thus  Hpoakrt  in  {:!;eneral  terms,  in  a  eoinnjunication  pnhliflied  in  the  Journal  of 
the  (reopjraphical  Hocii'ty  for  184/5 :  "  The  conntries,  by  the  expeditions  of  Sir 
John  Franklin  and  Captain  Hack,  ar«^  rich  in  minerals  ;  inexhaustible  coal  ficdds 
skirt  tlie  Rocky  mountains  thnnif^h  twelve  dej^reciS  ot  latitude  ;  beds  (d  coal  crop 
out  to  the  surface  on  various  parts  of  the  Arctic  coast ;  veins  of  lead  ore  traverse 
the  rocks  of  Coronation  gulf,  and  the  IVEackenzic  river  Hows  through  a  well- 
wooded  tract,  skirted  by  motalliferoiia  ranges  of  momitains,  and  oft'ers  no  ob- 
stniction  to  steam  navigation  for  upwards  of  twelve  hundred  mih^s." 

The  gold  discovi'rios  in  the'  ranges  of  tin;  Rocky  mountains  are  so  remarkable 
as  to  require  a  separate  consideration  at  a  later  stage  of  this  report. 

PART  II. 

THI-:  HISTOUY  AND  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY. 


It  has  already  been  shown  that  the  Hudson  Bay  Comjjany  no  longer  holds  a 
license  of  exclusive  trade  with  the  Indians  in  Northwest  British  America.  This 
expired  in  Jime,  1859,  and  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton,  then  colonial  secretary,  interposed 
to  prev(!nt  its  renewal.  Upon  the  I'acific  coast  and  in  the  valh^y  of  the  Mac- 
kenzie the  company  has  no  privileges  over  individuals,  either  in  respect  to  trade 
or  territorial  dominion.  A  proprietary  right  to  the  scattered  trading  posts,  as 
enclosures  of  land,  will  doubtless  be  recognized  as  surveys  are  extcndiul. 

Over  the  shores  of  the  Hudson  bay  and  the  districts  drained  by  all  its  tribu- 
taries the  company  claims  exclusive  proprietary  right — to  be  absolute  lord  of 
the  soil.  I  anncix  an  abstract  of  the  royal  charter,  which  is  the  foundation  of 
this  claim  to  the  country,  known  as  Rupert's  Land  or  Hudson  Bay  Territory. 

l^he  company's  charter  of  incorporation  is  dated  IVIay  2,  1G70,  in  the  22d 
year  of  King  Charles  the  Second.  It  is  given  at  length  in  the  Parliamentary 
paper  No.  547,  sess.  1842.  The  preamble  states  that  certain  persons,  seventeen 
in  number,  to  wit,  Prince  Rupert,  Christopher,  (Duk«}  of  Albemarle,)  William 
(Earl  of  Craven,)  Henry  Lord  Arlington,  Antony  Lord  Ashley,  Sir  John  Rob- 
inson, Sir  Robert  Vyner,  Sir  Peter  Colleton,  Sir  Edward  Hungerford,  Sir  Paul 
Kueele,  Sir  John  Griffith,  Sir  Philip  Carteret,  James  Hayes,  Johr  Kirk(!, 
Francis  ^lillington,  William  Prettyman,  and  John  Fenu,  escjuires,  and  John 
Portman,  citizen  and  goldsmith,  "  have,  at  their  own  cost  and  charge's,  xnidertakcn 
an  expedition  to  Hudson  bay,  in  the  northwest  part  of  America,  for  tha  discovery 
of  a  new  passage  into  the  South  sea,  and  for  the  finding  of  some  trade  for 
furs,  minerals,  and,  other  considerable  commodities  ;  and  by  such  their  under- 
taking hav(^  already  made  such  discoverii^s  as  to  encourage  them  to  proceed 
further  in  pursuance  of  their  said  design,  by  means  whereof  there  may  probably 
arise  a  very  great  advantage  to  us  and  our  kingdom  ; "  and  had  therefore  peti- 
tioned for  a  charter  of  incorporation.  On  these  considerations,  his  Majesty 
"  being  desirous  "  to  ]»romote  all  endeavors  tending  to  "  THK  public  good,"  pro- 
ceeds to  incorporate  the  persons  aforesaid  under  the  title  of  "  The  governor  and 
company  of  adventurers  of  England  trading  into  Hudson  bay,"  with  "  per- 
petual succession  "  and  all  customary  corporate  privileges,  appointing  Prince 
Rupert  the  tirsT  governor  thereof,  and  seven  of  the  other  pcititioners  the  first 
committee. 

The  charter  confers  the  "  sole  trade  and  commerce  of  all  those  S(!as,  straits, 
bays,  rivers,  lakes,  creeks,  and  sounds,  in  whatsoever  latitude  they  shall  be 
that  lie  within  the  entrance  of  the  straits  commonly  called  Hudson's  straits, 
together  with  all  the  lands  and  territories,  coasts  and  confines  of  th(!  seas,  bays, 


• 


AND   NORTHWEST    URITISH    AMERICA. 


71 


lakcrt,  rivor«,  crocki?,  niul  noinuls  aforosnid,  tliat  an;  not  already  actimlly  pon- 
BOHHcd  by  or  {^raiitod  to  any  of  our  subjects,  or  jwAscsfted  Inj  tln'.\uhjvct.i  of  any 
other  Chr'iHt'nin  prince  or  slate" 

In  a  subsequent  part  of  tin;  cliarter  tlie  <j;rant  is  extended  to  "  all  havens, 
bays,  creeks,  rivers,  lakes,  and  seas,  into  which  they  [the  coninanyj  shall  find 
entrance  or  passage  h;j  xmtvr  or  land,  out  of  tin;  territories,  limits,  or  places 
aforesaid,''  which,  taken  literally,  may  mean  not  only  the  whole  continent  of 
America,  but  the  whole  world,  or  at  least  such  portions  of  both  as  were  not 
"possessed  by  the  subjects  of  any  otlnsr  Christian  prince  or  state."  All  tho 
earth  was  clearly  accessible  by  land  or  water  from  Hudson  bay.  Coupl<;d  with 
tho  grant  there  was  the  reservation  that  tin-  territories  should  "  be  from  hence- 
forth reckoned  and  reputed  as  one  of  our  plantations,  or  colonies  in  America, 
called  Rupert's  Land,"  but  tho  governor  and  company  for  the  time  being,  and 
in  all  time,  were  declared  to  be  "  true  and  absolutes  lords  and  proprietors  of  the 
same  territory,"  holding  it  as  the  "manor  of  East  (rreenwich,"  and  paying  for 
it  yearly  "  /»ro  elks  and,  two  black  hearers,  whensoever  and  as  often  as  wv,  our 
lieirs  and  successors,  shall  happen  to  enter"  into  the  said  cmmtries,  territories, 
and  regions  hereby  granted. 

The  authority  of  the  company  rests  n])on  this  charter,  but  in  IGOO  the  com- 
pany sought  for  and  obtained  an  act  of  ParlianuMit  to  confirm  it.  In  the  body 
of  this  act  the  C(nitirmati(»n  is  "  forever ;"  but  Avhilst  the  bill  was  passing  through 
Parliament  the  Commons  limited  it  to  "  ten  years,"  tlu;  Lords  to  "  8ev<!n  ;"  and 
the  bill  ultimately  passed  with  the  following  rider :  Provided  always,  That  this 
act  shall  continue  in  force  for  tlu;  term  of  seven  years,  and  from  thence  to  the  end 
of  the  next  session  of  Parliament,  and  no  longer." 

At  the  end  of  the  s(!ven  years  the  comj)any  introduced  a  new  bill,  but,  appre- 
hending a  d<'fcat,  withdrew  it,  and  from  that  day  to  this  it  has  relied  solely  for 
i  •  all  its  assumed  territorial  and  trading  rights  over  llupert's  Land  to  its  original 

charter. 

The  claim  of  England  to  Hudson  bay  was  founded  upon  a  presumed  dis- 
covery of  Henry  Hudson,  who,  in  1610,  was  the  first  navigator  that  sailed  into 
the  strait  that  leads  into  the  bay.  It  does  not  appear  that  he  sailed  into  the  bay, 
for  his  crew,  having  mutinied,  cast  him  adrift  somewhere  in  the  entrance  of  the 
strait,  and  he  Avas  never  again  heard  of.  The  French,  however,  according  to 
Charlevoix,  vol.  1,  |)age  476,  had  discov(!red  Hudson  bay  at  an  earlier  period, 
having  arrived  at  its  shores  through  means  of  the  river  flowing  into  James's 
bay  from  the  countries  lying  to  the  eastward  and  northward  of  (^hicbec.  And 
the  French  had  likewise  penetrated,  by  means  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the 
great  lakes,  to  those  vast  countries  lying  to  the  Avestward  of  Hudson  bay,  and 
even  as  far  as  the  Pacific.  At  all  evcmts,  the  French  at  a  very  early  day  exer- 
cised a  control  and  had  acquired  possession  of  the  entire  Winnipeg  basin. 

In  1626  Louis  XIII  granted  a  charter  to  a  company  called  the  Company  of 
New  France,  conferring  upon  them  exclusive  rights  and  privileges,  and  giving 
them  an  absolute  control  over  all  th(!  country  of  New  France,  called  Canada, 
(ditc  Canada,)  and  the  boundaries  decided  in  that  act  or  charter  are  dcjfinite, 
certain,  and  explicit,  and  are  almost  precisely  those  by  which  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  describe  what  they  call  their  territories  in  mon;  recent  times.  In 
1670,  forty-three  years  subsequent  tc»  the  grant  of  the  French  monarch,  and 
Avhilst  France  continued  in  the  possession  of  Hudson  bay  and  all  the  country 
west  of  it,  Charles  the  Second  of  England  made  the  great  charter  already  men- 
tioned. 

TIk;  geographical  knowledge  of  Charles,  though  very  limited  and  imperfect 
as  regards  those  straits,  was  evidently  not  so  circumscribed  but  that  some  idea 
existed  that  they  might  lead  to  the  possession  of  some  other  power,  for  a  pro- 
viso exists  in  the  charter  excluding  from  the  operations  of  the  grant  "  all  lands, 
&c.,  possessed  by  the  subjects  of  any  other  Christian  prince  or  state."     The 


72 


RELATIONS   HETWKEN    THE    UNITED   8TATEH 


company,  liowevor,  iictinp;  nii(hr  tlio  clmrtor,  Iniilt  fortH  on  the  HluircH  of  llud- 
Hoti  tiiiy,  ill  opposition  to  tlioi^c  ci'cotcd  liy  the  Fitiu'Ii  coniitiuiy,  iind  the  tnulo 
of  tlu!  two  wuH  conducted  iiniid  a  continual  Htiit'e,  and  HouriHlicd  initil,  by  tho 
treaty  of  Uynwick,  in  1()97,  tlic;  Kn^lisli  fortrt  in  lIudHon  bay  wen-  cecb'd  to 
France.  Hancroft,  in  liiw  liintory  of  the  United  Staten,  thiiH  ri'cordrt  the  result 
of  that  treaty  : 

"In  America,  France  relaim-d  all  llujlnon  bay  and  all  tlu'  placeH  of  which  nhe 
wan  in  j)OH(<e(<Hion  at  the  be<;innin}i;  of  the  war ;  in  (»ther  wonU,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  eastern  moiety  of  Newfoundland,  France  retained  the  whole;  coant  and 
adjacent  islands  from  Maine  to  beyond  J^abrador  and  Hudson  bay,  besides  Can- 
ada and  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi," — (Vol.  2,  i)age  192.) 

Ah  the  treaty  alluded  to  makes  no  allusion  (»r  reservation  repirdiii};  the  sup- 
posed rights  of  the  Hudson  Hay  Comjiany,  it  is  urged  by  Canadians  that  the 
charter  n'ally  had  no  existinice  legally,  and  was  not  recognized,  or  it  was  abro- 
gated by  the  treaty.  France;  held  Hudson  buy  until  1711,  when,  by  the  treaty 
of  Utrecht,  Hudson's  straits  and  liadson's  bay  were  made;  over  to  England,  and 
that  was  the  first  tinu;  that  she  ac(iuired  an  undisputed  right  to  that  region  of 
country,  nearly  lialf  a  century  after  the  date  of  the  chartesr  by  Charles  II. 

It  was,  however,  ju'ovided  by  tin;  artich-s  of  this  last-nu;ntioned  treaty,  "That 
it  shall  be  entirely  free  to  the  company  of  Quebec,  and  all  the  other  subjerts  of 
the  most  Christian  king,  to  go  by  land  or  by  sea  whithersot^ver  they  please  out 
of  the  lands  of  the  sai<l  bay,  together  with  all  thoir  goods,  merchandise,  arms, 
and  eff'ects." 

The  French  traders,  after  having  left  Hudson  bay,  confined  tlujmscdves  to 
that  channel  of  trade  which  tht!  great  lakes  opened  out  to  them,  and,  passing  up 
through  Lake  Superior,  they  spread  themselves  over  the  country  W(!8tward,  by 
establishing  posts  at  Ilainy  lake,  the  Upper  Mississippi,  lie  l{(;d  river,  and  on 
the  Assinniboin  and  SaskatcheAvan  rivers.  The  llw^  May  Company  then 
occtipied  the  few  forts  along  the  shores  of  Hudson  bay,  aii>l  for  the  succeeding 
one  hundred  years  contented  themselves  with  trading  arouiul  Hudson  bay,  and 
claiming  no  greater  territory  than  those  shores  atibrded  them.  In  17G3  Canada 
was  ceded  to  England. 

About  three  years  subsequent  to  the  conquest,  namely,  in  1766,  many  British 
subjects,  mostly  of  Scotch  origin,  engaged  in  the  fur  trade,  and,  following  the 
route  pursued  by  the  French  traders,  carried  their  enterprises  as  far  westward 
as  the  French  had  penetrated,  and  occupied  numy  of  the  posts  of  thes(^  their 
predecessors  in  the  valley  of  the  Saskatchewan.  And  they  even  stretched  away 
northward,  and,  single-handed,  entered  into  direct  competition  with  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  Avhich  at  that  period  confined  their  trafiic  to  the  coasts  of  Hudson 
bay  only. 

These  circumstances  were  instrumental  in  originating  a  powerful  organization 
in  Montreal,  under  the  style  of  the  Northwest  Company,  in  the  winter  of  1783, 
and  from  that  date  down  to  1821  that  company  succ(;ssfully  competed  against 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  treating  the  charter  of  Charles  the  Second  as  a 
nullity,  m  accordance  with  the  written  legal  opinions  of  the  then  leading  lawyers 
of  Englatul,  Brougham,  Gibbs,  Spankie,  Piggot,  &c.,  &c. 

The  Northwest  Company  was  not  a  chartered  one,  but,  as  the  succ(!ssorB  to 
the  old  French  traders,  they  pursued  a  very  lucrative  trade  throughout  the  whole 
western  country,  via  the  lakes,  trading  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  and  pene- 
trating to  regions  which  the  French  had  not  reached.  Their  fleets  of  canoes, 
laden  with  goods  for  the  Indians  or  furs  for  Montreal,  traversed  the  continent 
in  every  direction  through  the  connected  chain  of  rivers  and  lakes  from  Mon- 
treal to  Puget's  sound.  A  perusal  of  Sir  Alexander  Mackenzie's  voyages  will 
afford  some  idea  of  the  scale  upon  Avhich  the  commercial  enterprises  of  the  Cana- 
dian company  wen;  carried  on  over  the  western  part  of  the  continent  for  nearly 
half  a  c<?nturj  before  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  entered  there.     This  latter 


. 


AND   NOKTHWEST   HKITISH    AMEKU.A. 


73 


-J 


compuny,  up  to  181 1,  Imd  t'onfinoil  tlicir  clnitn  tn  tin-  Hliorrn  of  tlic  Ifudnou  Imy, 
imd  tlini,  JiH  now,  tlu-y  rcccivt-d  nil  tluir  stipplits  t'wm  Kiit^laml,  ria  HuiIhoii 
l)ay,  wliilnt  tlir  NorthwcHt  Coiupaiiy  took  tlH■i^•^*  from  Montn-al. 

In  Ifiai  the  NortliwrHt  (!(»mpiiny  united  with  the  Hudson  Hay  Company,  and 
under  tins  latter  luime  hecaine  the  aHHcrtors  of  elainin  whieh,  durin;;  the  period 
of  half  a  century,  they  had  always  denouneed  and  snecesHfidly  detied 

The  people  of  Minnesota,  while;  sharin;,^  fully  the  ('ana<lian  opinion  that  tlu^ 
ohart«'r  of  the  Hudson  Hay  (!onipany  presents  no  valid  ohstaeh*  to  the  assump- 
tion hy  Parliament  to  territorial  dondnion  in  the  valleys  of  the  lleil  river  and 
Haskatchewan — v<stinjf  it  in  a  pntvincial  p)vernment — hy  no  means  ass<'nt  to 
the  denunciations  of  that  remarkable  orj^anizMtion.  Its  numerous  posts  exercise 
a  wli(desoii.(!  police  over  the  liulian  tribes;  under  tlui  protection  of  its  otru-ers 
Bcientific  iuvestiii;atiou  has  been  jirosecuted  in  all  directions  ;  travellers  are  always 
assured  of  huniiine  and  liosnitable  treatment;  and  missionary  enterprises  receive 
efficient  enconraj:;ement.  'I  hero  is  reason  to  ladieve  that  the  leadin;;-  men  of  the 
company,  both  in  Kn;,Mand  and  Northwest  Aujerica,  t»idy  need  to  be  satisfied 
that  an  enerjjfetic  colonization  will  succeed  their  pn'sent  occupation,  when  they 
will  chirrfully  nccejit  a  parliamentary  adjustment  of  their  jtossessory  rififhts, 
and  co-operate  ni  tin-  establislnnent  of  reitresentative  institutions  and  in  what- 
ever measures  will  contribute  to  th(>  material  develoj)ment  of  a;;;ricultural  and 
mineral  resources.  The  meudx-rs  of  the  company  who  reside  in  America  can 
readily  perceive  how  they  may  receive  an  hundred-fold  more  advantage  as  pro- 
prietors of  future  cities  ami  towns  than  as  incorporated  fur  traders.  Fort  William, 
on  Thunder  bay,  ]jake  Superior,  north  shore;  F(ut  Fraiuis,  on  Kainy  river;  Fort 
Ciarry,  on  Red  river;  Carlton,  Pitt,  and  Edmonton,  on  the  North  [Saskatchewan; 
Chesterfield,  on  its  south  branch;  and  other  points  on  the  Pacific  slope,  will  be 
the  scenes  of  njierations  fur  more  renninerative  and  exciting  than  these  trading 
posts  have  ever  before  Avitnessed. 

Many  particulars  of  the  policy  of  tlu;  JIudson  liay  ('omjjany  can  be  more 
properly  presented  in  connexion  with  the  narrative  of  the  Selkirk  settlement. 

PART  III. 

SELKIRK  SEITLEMENT— ITS  FOUNDATION,  INSlTrHTIONS,  AND  AGRICULTURE. 

This  interesting  connnunity,  which  for  nearly  half  a  century  has  occupied  the 
Ulterior  of  British  Anu'rica,  isolated  luitil  lately  from  all  the  activities  and  ex- 
citements of  the  world,  is  so  closely  relaxed  in  its  early  annals  to  the  Frencli  and 
English  colonization  of  the  continent,  and  the  struggles  for  the  fur  tradi;  of  the 
north,  that  some  repetition  of  historical  statenu'uts  already  made  will  be  uiuivoid- 
able  in  the  present  connexion."* 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OK  SELKIRK. 

Over  one  hundred  years  ago  French  adventurers,  eager  to  extend  the  area  of 
their  fur  trade  and  th»!  limits  of  the  French  dominions,  pushed  their  explorations 
through  the  rivers  which  debouch  on  the;  northern  shore  of  Jjukc!  Superior 
beyond  Winnipeg.  In  an  old  map  reproduced  in  Mr.  Neill's  History  of  Minne- 
sota, atul  dated  as  early  as  17G2,  Fort  La  Reine  is  designated  at  the  confluence 
of  the  Assinniboin  and  Red  rivers,  where  the  courcurs  des  bois  from  the  French 
establishment  at  Mackinac  used  to  trade  with  the  Omahas  aiul  Assirniiboins.    A 


'"I  am  greatly  Indetited  to  tlie  siictcssive  piililioatiotis  of  Hon.  J.  A.  Wlieelock.  commis- 
sioner of  statistics  ot  tlie  State  of  Minnesota,  for  the  materials  of  this  chapter.  Mr.  Whee- 
lock's  annual  publicaticms  for  18G0-'6l  exhiliitan  intelligent  apjireuiation  of  the  new  epoch 
of  developmcut  which  has  become  imminent  in  Northwest  British  America,  and  the  magni- 
tude of  commercial  and  social  results  to  the  adjacant  American  St;ites. 


74 


RELATIONH    BETWEEN    THE    UNITED   STATES 


Himilar  tnuliiijj;  Htntlou  ut  tin-  Hamo  period  rxif^trd  oti  tlio  I'lmt  nldr  of  Lnkr  Win- 
ni|)<');,  1111(1  niiotlicr  on  tin-  Lakr  ol  llic  Woodn. 

'riioiiiiiH  Oiiny,  n  ('uiiiidiiui  trader,  who  iiHceuded  the  SuHk.'itchewuii  in  177(), 
w«H  the  firnt  who  advuiiced  heyond  Kiike  Wiiinipej;  with  a  view  to  tratlie.  The 
prolitrt  of  hin  voynj^e  eiieoura^ed  others  to  foMow  hir*  examph'.  Their  HUcceHH 
uroiiHed  theJeahxHV  of  their  Mii^lirth  eoiiipetitor)*,  who  had  entaldinhed  a  tratlic 
on  the  nhoreH  of  IIihIhoii  hay,  and  pive  rii<e  to  a  h)ii^  nerien  of  dirtorderH  and 
I'XceHHeH.  iIoHeph  Frohinher  and  his  hntther,  who  went  heyond  the  Hfty-ninth 
degree  of  iatitnih'  to  Clinrehill  and  /*///■  /n  Cnmnv,  and  I'eter  Pond,  who  in 
I  77m  entered  lOn^^linh  river  and  the  river  ^'Original,  where  he  pansed  the  winter, 
AW  the  prineipal  namen  art^ociiited  with  the  earlier  explorationH  of  tliirt  cotintry. 
In  17H1  four  (ii noes  tilled  with  traders  aseended  the  SaHkatchewan  to  the  hiph- 
landri  which  divide  its  sources  from  the  valley  of  the  Macken/Je.  In  17N.'i  the 
Northwest  Company,  principally  composed  of  the  persons  already  mentioned, 
was  ((r{j;ani/ed,  and  waj^ed  a  hitt(!r  competition  with  numerous  rivals.  In  1787 
the  sevitral  fur  coinpnni(>H,  wlio  had  been  contending  tor  tln^  exclusive^  trade  of 
the  Indians  of  the  northwest,  consolidated  under  tin;  name  of  the  Northwest 
Company,  which  then  had  only  one  n'maining  rival  in  the  Hudson  Hay  Company. 

The  latter  corporation,  whose  charter  dated  hack  to  the  reign  of  Charles  J  I, 
in  1670,  had  not  yet  extended  their  estahlislnnents  into  this  region,  nn<l  the 
Northwest  Comj)any  enjoyed  an  undisturbed  monopoly  of  the  lucrative  trade 
which  tli(^  French  had  resigned  into  their  hands.  Th(!ir  dreatn  of  exclusive 
dominion  was,  however,  soon  «'nded. 

In  180/5  Lord  Selkirk,  a  benevolent  but  impracticable  Scotchman,  and  a 
member  »)f  the  Hudson  Day  Company,  wh(»  had  penetrated  into  this  region,  was 
BO  struck  with  its  beauty  and  fertility  and  the  unldness  of  its  climate,  that  he 
conceived  the  project  of  planting  colonies  here  whoso  growth  should  compcsnsato 
the  HritiKh  crown  for  tlu!  rec,(!nt  loss  of  the  unitiul  ecdonies,  and  he  wrote  several 
tracts  urging  the;  suitericu'lty  of  this  regi(»n  for  the  British  emigrant  over  any 
portion  of  the  United  States.  In  1811  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  coloniza- 
tion a  gra.it  of  land  on  the  lied  river  from  the  HjuIsou  Hay  Coujpany,  which 
was  at  tiie  sanu^  time  aroused  by  his  representations  to  tin;  necessity  of  extend- 
ing their  jurisdiction  over  a  country  so  rich  in  furs  and  of  securing  its  tr;ide  to 
themselves. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  following  year  a  small  detachment  of  emigrants,  whom 
Lord  Selkirk  had  collected  from  the  highlands  of  Scotland,  after  a  long  and 
toilsome  journey,  which  must  have  been  terribh;  in  the  vast  solitudes  through 
which  it  led  them  and  to  which  it  led,  arrived  <m  the  bunks  of  the  Red  river, 
near  its  conlluence  with  the  Assinniboin.  Th(>re  they  comnjencr'd  building 
houses,  when  their  work  was  stopped  by  a  ])arty  of  men  in  tin;  service  of  the 
Northw(!st  Company,  Avho,  disguised  in  Indian  costume,  ordenul  them  to  d<'si8t. 
Frightinicd  by  their  menaces,  they  were  induced  to  t,ak(.'  refuge  at  Pembina. 
Their  guides,  as  savage  in  disposition  as  in  their  assumed  dress,  tyrannized 
without  mercy  over  the  aft'righted  colonists,  robbing  them  of  whatever  they  most 
prized,  and  found  Ji  cruel  sport  in  the  alarm  they  caused  tin;  mothers  by  pre- 
tending to  run  oflF  with  their  children.  Several  of  the  more  dedicate  died  under 
the  shock  of  this  iidiuman  treatment.  The  winter  having  been  passed  in  tents 
at  Pembina,  they  were  piirmitted  to  return  to  their  settlements  in  the  spring. 
Their  labors  were  about  to  be  nnvarded  with  an  abundant  harvest,  when  it  was 
destroyed  by  birds.  The  next  winter  was  again  i)assed  at  Pembina,  and  when 
they  returned  to  their  settlements  i>i  the  spring  they  AV(!re  in  a  condition  of  abject 
poverty. 

"Hy  the  month  of  September,  181.5,"  says  the  Reverend  E.  I).  Neill,  the 
historian  of  Minnesota,  "the  number  of  settlers  was  about  two  hundred,  and 
the  colony  was  called  Kildonan,  after  the  old  parish  in  Scotland,  in  which  many 
were  born.     With  increased  numbers  all  seemed  auspicious.    Houses  Avere  built, 


AND   NUBTHWE8T    HRlTIHIl  AMERICA. 


76 


n  mHl  «'nTt«!fl,  mu\  m\)nrU'i\  cntflc  niul  h1i(m|i  lupm  to  ^ni/.i'  on  tlu!  uiululatinp: 
plaiiiH." 

Hut  iWiiriiT  mill  jfiilourty  followed  tliciii  vvvu  to  tlnmi  HolifiidjH.  The  Nortli- 
w.'Ht  ("oiiumuy  lU'ViM-  looked  with  Ciivor  on  the  ^'i-owth  of  the  Hettlenient,  which 
WUH  repudtul  urt  u  HcheiiM!  of  their  liviiln  of  the  Hudson  May  rumpaiiy  to  dirt- 
poHHeHH  them  ttf  the  hienitive  porttrt  whitdi  they  oceiipied  in  the  lieij^hhoriiond  ; 
and  in  tht^  Kunnner  of  1811  Duncan  Caniet-on  and  Ah'xander  MeDonnel  wi're 
n|)|)oinl«!tl  at  a  meeting  of  the  p/utneiH  of  the  coinpany  to  concert  nieaHures  to 
Htop  tlu^  pio;j;reHH  of  the  colony.  In  pursuance  of  thirt  dertij;n,  Cameron,  who 
Hnoke  till!  (laelic  with  tliiency,  artfully  iuf^inuated  himself  into  the  confidence  of 
the  llijjjhianderrt,  and,  without  evinciufj;  direct  hostility  to  the  plann  of  Selkirk, 
gradually  sowed  the  needs  of  <lirtafl'ecfion  in  the  Ht'ttlement,  which,  in  the  spring 
of  18iri,  cidminated  in  tlu^  desertion  of  a  mmdierof  tin;  colonists  to  thi!  i|uarters 
of  the  Northwestern  Company,  whos»)  employiis  in  tin;  meanwhile  liad  hrokeii 
open  th(!  storehouse  of  the  colony  and  carrie«l  away  tlu'ir  field-pieces.  Knch-avors 
W(!re  also  made,  with  partial  success,  to  excite  the  minds  of  the  Indians  again»t 
the  settlers. 

A  murderous  attack  was  made  hy  the  Northwest  party  on  tln»  governor's 
house,  who  was  st^ized  and  carried  ofl'  to  Montreal  hy  Cameron.  MeDonnel  fol- 
lowed up  this  outrage  with  a  series  of  aggressions  on  th»!  settlers.  I*ers«!cnted 
to  extremity,  tlu^y  were  again  forced  to  ahandon  flu'ir  homes.  Ahout  this  time. 
Bays  Mr.  NiHIl,  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  pleasant  month  of  June,  two  Ojihwa 
chiefs  arrived  with  forty  hraves  and  offered  to  escort  the  persecuted  settlers,  with 
their  property,  to  Lake  Winnipeg. 

Guarded  hy  the  grim  chihlren  of  tho  forest  from  the  assaults  of  their  foes, 
they,  like  tln^  Acadian  peasants  in  "  Evangeline,"  went  "  friendless,  h(»nu'less, 
hopeless."  Tho  mournful  picture  of  the  Acadian  expatriation  was  monrnfully 
fulfilled,  even  in  the  sad  sight  of  their  dwellings  wrapped  in  tin;  flames  which 
the  incendiary's  torch  fiad  light(;d. 

In  the  following  sj)ring  the  fugitives  ntturned  to  their  colony  under  the  pro- 
tection of  an  officer  of  the  Hudson  Jlay  Company,  who  arrested  Cameron  and 
pent  hinj  to  England  for  trial. 

In  the  ineantiuK!  tho  Earl  of  Selkirk,  learning  of  the  distresses  of  the  cohtuists, 
sailed  for  Anuirica.  He  arrivi'd  at  New  York  in  the  fall  of  lNf/5,  where  rumors 
of  tlnnr  defection  reaclnul  him,  and  in  the  following  spring  he  set  out  for  the 
colony,  with  a  military  escort,  which  he  had  organized  from  some  disbanded 
military  companicfs.  At  Sault  St.  Mario  tidings  of  new  disasters  n;ached  him. 
Somple,  the  governor  of  the  t(>rritory  of  thi;  Hudson  liay  Company,  wfn.  had 
but  just  taken  possession  of  his  new  «|uarters  on  ll(,'d  river,  Avas  attaek<'d  hy  a 
party  of  tho  employc'-s  of  the  Northwestern  Company  and  killed,  with  a  number 
of  his  nuni,  in  tlu?  aft'ray. 

Tho  settlors  were  again  expellod  from  their  homes  by  tho  victorious  marau- 
ders, and  \v(nv  alniady  on  their  way  to  t\n)  sea-coast,  when  thoy  wore  recalled  by 
tho  welcome  news  of  Selkirk's  approach.  A  ro-enforcemont  of  (^migrants,  sent 
to  tho  colony  under  his  direction,  had  preceded  him.  Inccnsiul  at  th(!  atrocities 
which  had  b(H'n  ])(!rpotrated  by  tho  agents  of  the  Northwestern  Company,  he 
had  proceeded  with  his  force  to  tho  hi>ad(|uartors  of  that  company,  at  Fort  Wil- 
liam, on  Lake  Superior,  and  having  apprehended  tho  principal  parties,  sent  thorn 
to  Montreal  for  ti'ial. 

His  arrival  at  lied  river  soon  retrieved  th(!  afl'airs  of  the  colony,  and  ho  left 
it  tho  following  year  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Owing,  however,  to  tho  scarcity  of  seed,  which  was  tho  natural  consoquonce 
of  the  diflicultios  already  stated,  tlio  harvest  of  1817,  though  tho  yield  was 
prolific,  was  insutHcient  to  supply  tho  wants  of  tho  increasing  population,  and 
hunting  was  again  resorted  to  for  subsistence.  They  set  out  in  December  across 
the  plains  to  join  a  distant  camp  of  Pembina  half-breed  hunters  and  Indians. 


76 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED    STATES 


liil 


Tliey  ronchc'cl  it,  iiftor  a  journoy  of  terribio  sufFisrhig,  to  find  tho  buffalo  Hcarco. 
and  the  camp  aubslstiiig  upon  scanty  faro.  Mnrlng  irncwed  their  hopen.  The 
rtuninun*  wad  propitious.  'Vha  I'.arveat  was  ah*<'ady  ripe  for  the  sickles  wlien  a 
ne»\'  and  tcaTibh;  cahiinity  befel  tlicni. 

It  \vat<  at  thirf  epoch,  in  the  i<ununer  of  1818,  that  the  grasshoppers,  Avhich, 
for  the  past  and  present  y(  srs,  have  h'^aw  devastated  those  settlements,  and 
extended  their  depredations  over  a  considerabh!  ])art  of  Miimesota,  made  their 
first  recorded  appearan"e  in  that  rej^ion.  The  vast  armies  of  tliest;  insects  dark- 
eh(^d  the  air,  and  passed  over  the  land  like  a  consuming  fire,  lickinjij  up  every 
green  thing.  The  next  year  (18H))  tlu;  havoc  was  even  worse.  "  They  were 
produced,"  says  lloss,  "  in  masses  two,  three,  or  four  inches  in  depth.  The 
water  was  infected  with  them.  Along  the  river  thiiy  were  to  b(!  found  in  heaps 
like  sea-weed,  and  might  be  shoveled  Avith  a  sjtade.  Kvery  vegetable  substance 
was  (iithev  eaten  up  or  Ptrii)p(!(l  to  the  bare  stalk.  The  bark  of  trees  shared  the 
same;  fate.  Even  fires,  if  kindled  out  of  doors,  were  icnuicdiately  extinguished 
by  them." 

The  hunter's  life  alone  seemed  l"ft  to  the  despairir.g  colonists,  but  one  more 
effort  was  made  to  retrieve  tlieir  condition.  During  the  winter  of  1819-'20,  a 
deputation  of  settKu'S  travelled  a  thousand  miles  on  snow-shoes  across  Minnesota 
to  I'rairie  f'u  Chien  for  seed.  The  details  of  the  return  trip  in  the  spring  of 
1820  arc  highly  interesting.  Three  ]\Iackinac  boats  hulen  with  wheat,  oats, 
and  peas  started,  on  the  15tli  of  April,  from  I'rairie  du  Chien  for  the  Selkirk 
settlements  on  Red  river.  "On  the,  third  day  of  i\Iay  the  boats  passed  through 
Lake;  Pepin ;  the  voyage  was  continned  ou  Minnesota  river  to  Big  Stone 
lake,  from  which  a  portage  was  made?  into  Lac  Traverse,  a  mih>  and  a  half 
distant,  the  boats  being  moved  across  on  rollers."  On  the  third  day  of  ,Fime 
the  i^arty  arrived  at  Pembina,  where,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream  of  that 
name,  the  Hudson  Bay  and  Northwest  Companies  bad  rival  trading  posts. 
This  cveiitful  voyage  is  one  of  the  mo(-t  striking  incidents  in  the  I'lironicles  of 
the  settlement,  aiul,  as  reuiarked  by  (Jovernov  Sibley  ni  an  address  delivered 
by  him,  "  is  worthy  of  note,  as  it  is  the  oidy  instance  of  heavy  articles  being 
transported  the  entir<>  distance  from  Prairie;  du  CLien  to  the  Red  river  by  water, 
with  the  exception  of  ilu;  narrow  portage  between  Jiig  Stoiu'  lake;  and  J^ake 
Traverse." 

The  next  two  joars  of  contiiuied  prosperity  repaired  the  disasteii'  v.'hicli  had 
iieretofore  assailed  the  colony.  In  1821  the;  two  great  rival  trading  con;[)anies, 
tired  kA'  useless  bloodshed  and  expensive  strife,  consolidated,  under  the  name  of 
the  Hulson  Bay  Company,  and  their  union  seenned  to  secure  the  futu'c  peace 
and  saiety  of  the  setth^nent. 

In  tie  same  year  a  lunubt  r  .)i'  Suis?  arrived  in  the  colony.  Clockmakers  in 
profession,  the  new  jiursuits  to  wl;!ch  lluy  were  called  were  not  congenial  to 
the  I.  Like  the  Swiss  soldiers  of  Napoh  nn,  they  grew  homesick,  and  }»ined  for 
their  native  mountain  liomrs. 

'i'he  settle-ment  was  not  done  "ith  calamity.  Misfortune,  which  had  pu.'sued 
it  in  cveny  fovm,  in  e'ach  successive  visit  took  shape's  more  appalling  th-m  the 
last.  The  winter  and  spring  of  182.'3-'i'6  brought  a  fresh  train  of  disaste  s.  In 
the  month  of  December  a  furious  stoira  (ivcrti<ok  a  large'  i)arty  of  bieffalet  bunte'rs 
in  the;  northern  plains  of  Minnesota,  and  elnise  the  buffalo  out  e)f  their  reach. 
IMyiug  solely  on  the  Hesh  of  this  animal  for  pubsistenc",  cut  off'  by  the  wide 
waste  of  deep  snows  fretm  the  ne;arest  se'lth'me  nt  a(  Peinbina,  near  200  mih'S 
distant,  they  had  no  resource  in  this  emerge'ucy,  Starvation  stareel  tlie-ni  in  the 
tace-.  Fuel  was  as  inaccessible  as  foejd.  ln\prisone'd  in  the  deep  snows,  over- 
whe'lmcd  with  cold  and  hunge  r,  numbers  perished  in  the  camp,  or  in  ;i  vain 
attempt  to  reae'li  IVmbina,  beifoie;  rumors  of  the'ir  situation  re^ache'd  the  coiotiy. 

The  calamitie's  of  tho  settlers  reache'el  their  climax  iii  the  e'usuiiig  spring,  whei 
the  melting  sne>ws  poureid  their  te.rrents  into  the  streams..    The  year  1*^26  is 


-i  . 


AND    NORTHWEST    BRITISH    AMERICA. 


77 


-i  ^ 


mcmomhhf  in  their  caleiutar  jh  tlio  ycnr  of  tlio  flood.  On  the  ;id  of  May  the 
lied  river  rorfe  nine  feet  in  twenty-four  hour.-*,  and  liy  the  5tli  th(^  level  |)lainr* 
were  f»ubnierg'ed.  The  waters  eontinr.ed  to  ri.se  till  the  21st,  when  houses  and 
barns  were  swept  off  in  the  delufj^e.  The  settlers  fled  to  the  distant  hills, 
whence  the  water  swept  over  the  wide  plains  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see.  The 
flood  abated  in  June,  "  and  such,"  says  j\Ir.  Neill,  "  is  the  surprisin}^  quickness 
with  Avhich  vegetation  matures  Ave  de,'];rees  of  latitud«'  north  of  St.  Paul,  that 
wheat  planted  on  the  22d  of  June  came  to  mattirity." 

The  discontented  Swiss,  driven  from  their  homes  by  tlic!  flood,  did  not  return 
to  the  s(!ttlement,  but  departed  for  the  United  Stat<'s,  and  settled  at  difl(!ront 
points  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississipjji.  It  is  a  curious  historical  fact,  that  the 
flrst  emigrants  to  Minnesota  were  the  Swiss  refugees  from  I?ed  river,  in  182(3, 
who  opened  farms  on  th(^  ])resent  site  of  St.  I'aul  and  near  I'ort  Snelling ;  and, 
according  to  our  historian,  should  be  recognized  aa  the  first  actual  seitlers  of 
the  State. 

Since  this  destructive  inundation,  no  event  has  occurred  in  the  history  of  the 
settlement  to  interrupt  the  calm  course  of  its  j)rosperity  until  the  year  1852 
brought  another  recurrence  of  the  deluge  which  had  swept  over  the  plains 
twenty-six  years  before,  'Vlw  waters  in  that  year  rose  a  foot  higher  than  in 
1826.  in  consequence  of  the  exposure  of  the  settlement  at  Pembina  to  these 
ruinous  casualties,  a  new  site  was  selected  for  the  Catho'ic  missions  at  that 
place,  near  Mount  Pembina,  forty  miles  il.-tant,  at  a  place  c  illed  St.  Joseph. 

A  visit  of  Colonel  Sunnier,  of  the  United  States  army,  to  I'embina,  in  1814, 
to  stop  tlie  encroachments  of  the  British  half-breeds  on  th<;  buft'alo  ranges  of 
Minnesota,  and  Grov(>rnor  liiimscy,  in  1851,  to  make  a  treaty  with  the  (jpper 
Ohipjx^was  ;  an  occasional  battle  with  the  Yancton  Sioux;  the  arrival  of  a  new 
missionary,  or  the  visit  of  an  explorer;  the  success  or  failure  of  a  season's  hunt, 
and  the  yearly  expeditions  from  the  settlement  to  the  new  cities  which  have 
arisen  during  the  last  ten  years  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Mississippi ;  the 
excitement  of  their  return,  freighted  Avitli  curious  wares  to  gratify  the  fancy  of 
the  delighted  Avomen  and  children,  are  all  the  incidents  of  their  lives,  until  the 
prospect  of  emancipation  from  the  control  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  gav(^  a 
new  impetus  and  an  intelligent  direction  to  the  discontents  which  have  been 
long  br(!wing  in  tin;  colony. 

In  1859  the  introduction  of  steamboat  navigation  added  to  the  prevalent 
expectation  and  excitement,  while,  in  1862,  the  discovery  of  gold  on  tin;  sources 
of  the  Saskatchewan  is  a  further  signal  of  a  new  epoch  in  the  history  of  the 
cominunity. 

INST  Tl'TIO.NS  OF  SKLKFRK  SKTTLEMRNT. 

Gorernment. — The  settlements  upon  the  lied  River  of  the  North,  froiu  the 
international  liomularyul  Pembina  to  the  month  of  the  river  in  Lake  Winnipeg, 
and  upon  tb»'  Assiinnb<iin  river,  for  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  w<\st  of  its  junction 
with  the  Red  river  at  Fi»rt  Garry,  Inne  aetpiired  a  civil  organization,  luidci' 
appoinlnw'iits  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  which  is  ofliciilly  d(signat(  d  as  the 
"Colotiv  of  Assinniboia."  JiCgislativc;  an«l  judicial  authority  is  vested  in  a 
+'ouncii  repre.untiiig  tht-  eh  rgy  and  lending  citizens.  The  otil-er  in  eluirge  ^r 
Fort  (Jiirry  ))resi(l(,'s  in  council  and  over  the;  courts,  and  acts  as  governor  (A  the 
colony,  imports  of  goods,  whether  l)rouglit  from  Europe  or  the  United  States, 
arc  charged  with  a  duty  of  four  p<'r  centum,  constituting  a  reveuv.e  for  the  suj>- 
porl  of  government.  J^and  can  be  purchased  at  seven  shillings  sterling  prr 
acre,  w^ith  liberal  credits  and  l(»w  interest — the  Hudson  Bay  Company  holding 
the  relation  of  gi-antor. 

Religion. — Of  the  population  of  10.000  souls  fully  one-half  are  under  the 
spiritual  jurisdiction  of  the  Catholic  bishop  of  Saint  Boniface  ;  the  remainder, 
except  about  one  thousand  Presbyterians,  attend  upon  the  services  of  the  church 


78 


RELATIONS    BETWEEN    THE    UNITED   STATES 


of  Eiiglaiul.  'JMio  (tiocose  of  Ruptirt's  Land  is  only  boiindod  on  tlie  AV(!t*t  by 
the  Rocky  inountninH,  on  tlio  north  by  the  Arctic  ocean,  and  on  the  east  by  the 
limits  of  Canada;  its  bishop  is  Right  Reverend  David  Anderson,  D.D.  Be- 
tween the  Catholic  and  Protestant  missions,  Avhich  reach  the  most  remote  dis- 
tricts, and  exert  a  salutary  influences  uj)on  the;  native  population,  there  arc 
established  the  most  fratcn-nal  relations. 

At  Red  river,  almost  within  sight  of  each  other,  are  numerous  parish  churches 
and  schools,  to  whose;  influence  a  remarkable  degree  of  intelligence  and  morality 
may  be  attributed. 

E<luc(iti(m. — A  m^wspajier,  a  public  library,  numerous  and  well-conducted 
schools,  and  the  influence  of  ttiltivated  and  even  scientific  men,  who  are  often 
found  iti  this  company's  service,  and  who  usually  retire  at  the  ago  of  fifty  years 
with  liberal  incomes,  founding  families  at  Selkirk,  concur  with  the  ecclesiastical 
organization  to  produce  a  favorable  condition  of  societv. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  farms  and  tenenjeni..  of  the  peoph'  is  identical 
with  the  settlements  of  the  Lower  St.  Lawrence  river. 


CLIMATIC    ADAPTATION    TO    AOHICIJLTURB. 

The  climate  of  the  Red  River  valley  is  characterized  by  extremes  of  tem- 
perature jtrobably  greater  than  any  other  part  of  the  continent,  while  the  annual 
mean  is  higlier  than  that  of  the  same  j)arallels  of  Western  Europe,  including 
some  of  the  best  agricultural  regicis  of  that  continent.  The  diflerencc  between 
its  hottest  and  coldest  months,  as  com^iared  with  other  climates  of  great  annual 
range,  will  be  shown  in  the  following  table,  as  also  the  difienMico  between  the 
mean  winter  and  simmier  temperatures : 


Place. 

i 

a 
1 

a 

c 
< 

1 

a 

C     02  J3 

2«  a 
sg^  2 

^ 

o 
K2.  15 

5y.  7 

52.6 
42.8 
55.7 
66.38 

Difference   between 
summer  and  win- 
ter. 

Latitude 

ai 

'To 
a 

Reel  River  settlement- .-- -      ......... 

o 
34.  38 
44.6 
44.8 
47.2 
42.3 
35.6 

o 
74.61 
54.5 
48.1 
40.8 
51.0 
59.66 

O       ' 

50  15 
44  53 
43  31 
42  20 
46  31 
50  46 

O        ' 

Fort  Hijelliufj,  Minnesotii...... 

93  10 

Green  P>ay.  Wiscoiisii) 

89  28 

Detroit,  MieiuKiin 

82  58 

Montreal    Ciiiiada ...  . .  ......  .... 

73  34 

Ozenburg,  Russia 

.56     6  E. 

It  is  the  excessive  cold  of  the  long  winter  season,  embracing  five  months  of 
the  year  in  this  latitude,  which  reduces  the  annual  mean. 

Tlic  iriean  for  the  three  winter  months  of  December,  January,  and  February, 
at  the  Red  River  settlement,  is  G"  85'.  At  Fort  ^>nclling  it  is  JG°;  at  Green 
Ray,  19^  9';  at  Detioit,  26'^  8  ;  at  Montreal,  16°  3'. 

But  it  nmst  be  remembered  that  the  Red  River  settlement  lies  upon  the  very 
edge  of  this  climafio  belt,  in  close  proximity  to  the  arctic  declivity  of  Hudson 
bay,  and  is  by  far  the  coldest  [tan  of  llic  whole  basin  of  the  Winnipeg.  The 
climate  grows  rapidly  warnu-r  on  the  same  parallels  westward,  even  when  there 
is  an  increase  "f  clcvalictn. 

It  is  warmer  a!  Fort  licnton,  on  the  Missouri,  than  at  Saint  l^xul ;  Fort  Ben- 
ton being  7^  degric.-'  of  longitude  west  of  Saint  Paid,  while  it  is  2^  degrees  of 
latitude        'her  north,  and  1,8 l;j  feet  higher  in  relative  elevation. 


AND   NORTHWEST    BlUTISII   AMERICA. 


79 


"The  mean  wmtor  temperaturo  at  Fort  Heuton,"  says  Hloil<:;('tt,  "is  twt>nty- 
five  degrees,  the  same  as  that  itf  Chieap),  'roronto,  Alhaiiy.  and  Porthind, 
Mahie.  At  Sahit  Paul  it  is  hut  iifteeu  (h'jjrees,  hrinj;  ten  (h'grees  h.'ss.  It  is 
not  so  cohl  as  this  on  the  south  hraueh  of  tht>  Saskatchewan." 

T/ic  Rcil  River  ivhitct: — ^Ir.  IModp'tt  ehiims  that  the  whole  Saskateliewan 
valley  has  a  climate  very  nearly  as  mild  in  its  annual  averaj^e  as  that  of  iSaint 
Paul,  which  Avould  give  it  a  winter  uu'an  ot"  lifteen  degrees,  and  an  ain\ual  mean 
of  forty-four  degrees,  Avhich  represents  the  climate  »»f  Wisconsin,  Northern  Iowa, 
Michigan,  Western  Canada,  Northern  New  Ytuk,  and  Houlhern   New  lM\gland. 

But  though  the  winter  of  this  region  is  a  period  of  intense  cold,  during  which 
the  mercury  often  remains  frozen  for  days  together,  its  elVect  upon  the  physiod 
comfort  is  mitigated  hy  a  clear,  dry  atmosphere,  such  as  u»akes  ihc  winters  of 
Minnesota  the  season  of  animal  and  social  enjoyment.  The  ItulValo  winter  in 
myriads  on  the  nutritious  grasses  of  its  jirairii'S  u))  to  as  high  a  latitud*'  as  J^akc^ 
Atliahasca,  The  half-breeds  and  Indians  camp  out  in  the  open  plain  during 
the  whole  winter  with  no  shelter  hut  a  huiValo  skm  tent  and  almndauce  of  luif- 
falo  robes,  and  the  horses  of  the  settlen  run  .-it  >  g'  all  winter  and  grow  fat  on 
the  grasses  which  tiny  ])ick  up  in  the  woods  and  bottoms.  .\s  compared  with 
Fort  Snelling,  the  winter  of  the  Ketl  K'iver  seltlement  will  be  shown  as  follows, 
mcluding  the  months  of  November  and  ^Marcli  in  the  natural  winter  group  : 


E. 


of 


of 


Lotalitiod. 

Nitvjinbor 

Uoct'iiiher 

Rod  Iliver 

o 

21.  19 
.{1.7 

H.  SI 

Fort  Snelling 

IC.  !) 

.liiiuiiii'v     !  !''( Ill  limy.        Maicli. 


o 

10.  f):. 
i;j.  7 


1.71  ; 

17.  (i     i 


o 

!».  9 
.'il.4 


Red  River  spring. — Spring  opens  at  nearly  the  same  time  from  Saint  Paul  to 
Lake  Athabasca;  April  and  May  are  the  .latural  spring  months  of  this  whoh; 
climatic  belt.  Tin?  abruptness  of  the;  transitittn  from  winter  to  spring  in  these 
northei'n  latitudes  is  a  wonderful  feature  of  tlu!  cliitiat(!.  In  the  Ued  JMver  set- 
tlement the  mean  of  March  is  9°  9'.  In  April  it  rises  to  ',i\P  H'A',  and  in  May 
to  58°  46'.     Compare  this  with  the  springs  of  Miimesota  and  W<;stern  Canada : 


Localities. 


Red  River  

Fort  Snelling. 
Toronto , 


March. 


o 
!).  !> 

;n.4 

T6.  0 


April. 


o 

;{•).  h;{ 
i  (;.  ;{ 

42.27 


May, 


o 
SH.  4(5 

5U.  52 


Agricultiirul  capacity  < if  the  summer  mont/m. — This  rich  ujiward  swcdl  of  th(i 
spring  temperature  is  prolonged  through  the  sununer  montiis  of  .Jinie,  .July, 
and  August,  to  include  the  amplest  mt^asures  of  h(;at  for  all  agricultural  jmr- 
poses.  Corn  thrives  well  .it  a  mean  tempemtun;  of  sixfy-Jivc  degrees  for  the 
summer  months,  requiring,  however,  a  July  mean  of  si.xty-seven  d«'gr<!(!H. 
Wheat  requires  a  mean  temp(;ratiire  of  from  sixty-two  to  sixty-live  rlegnMts  for 
the  two  months  of  .July  and  .\iigii<t.  Tli<;se  two  great  repr(fsentative  staples  of 
Araerieaii  agriculture  carry  with  iIh-mi  the-  whoh;  jicoces.siou  of  useful  iiora  that 
characterize  the  northern  belt  of  the  tem]»erate  zone.  Now,  the  nn^an  tempera- 
ture of  lied  River,  for  the  three  summer  mnutlis,  Ih  G7'^  70',  n(;arly  thr(;e  d(;greeH 
of  heat  more  than   is   necessary  for  corn,  while  .July  liii-  four  fh'grees   of  heat 


80 


RELATIONS    BETWEEN    THE    UNITED    STATES 


more  tliaii  is  rcquinul  t(tr  it«  best  dcvtilopmcnt.  Tho,  moan  of  the  two  montliH 
of  July  and  August  in  wixty-soveu  tlcf^recH — five  deforces  above  the  reiiuireineut 
of  wbeat. 

Tlie  followin<^-  fip;ure8  will  wliow  at  a  {»lance  the  exoo88  of  Hununev  heat  in  the 
Red  River  valley  abovi-  the  measures  recjuired  for  the  best  agricultural  develop- 
ment : 

O        o 

Mean  suninK  r  tentjjerature  of  Red  Ri^er G7.76 

Required  tor  ec»rn 65 

Excess y.lO 

i^Iean  te'n])erature  of  July 71.1(5 

Required  for  corn ()7 

Excess 4.1«) 

Mean  temjierature  of  two  months  of  J  uly  and  August 67 

Required  for  wheat 62 

Excess 5 


!        ( 


)       I 


1     ! 


The  following  tabh^  will  serve  for  comparison  between  the  summer  tempera- 
tures of  the  Red  River  with  the  rich  agricultm*al  climates  of  the  south  : 


Localities. 


Juno. 


I  ° 

Red  Kivev  ,- I  09.  10  | 

Fort  Snilliii<^^ ....-..:  08.  4  I 

ChicaKo    02-7  \ 

Muscatine,  lowii 06.4  | 

Kenosha,  VVi-conhiu 61.7  j 

Utica,  New  York 64.2 

Toronto 59.93  i 


July. 


o 

71.  16 

73.4 

70.8 

70.5 

68  6 

68.5 

67.95 


August. 


63.  3 
70.  1 
68.5 
68.9 
65.7 
66.7 
61.6 


Suiumer 
luoan. 


07.  70 
"0.  0 

67.  3 

68.  6 
65.  3 
66.5 
63.  98 


It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  summer  climate  of  Red  River  is  warmer  than 
that  of  any  of  the  localities  indicated  in  the  above  table,  except  Fort  Snelling 
and  Muscatine,  Iowa ;  warmer  than  that  of  Northern  Illinois,  Western  Wis- 
consin, Northern  New  York,  or  Western  Canada.  Its  June  is  warmer  than  in 
any  of  the  points  given,  its  June  and  July  warmer  than  any  except  Fort  Snell- 
ing, while  its  Augusts  are  cooler  than  any  of  the  rest.  The  last-named  locality 
in  the  same  latitude  as  the  Red  River  settlement,  with  a  corresponding  geograph- 
ical position,  is  its  equivalent  in  annual  mean  temperature ;  but  tlu;  difl'erence 
between  tlui  extremes  of  sunnner  and  winter  tempei-ature  is  much  less  in  the 
interior  Eunqiean  than  in  the  American  ])lain.  No  jiart  of  th(^  United  States 
has  so  low  an  annual  mean.  Fort  Kent,  Maine,  with  ii  mean  of  37°,  is  its 
nearest  approach. 

Autumn. — The  mean  temperatures  for  the  autumnal  months  are  as  follows, 
compared  with  Minnesota  : 


Localities. 

Hepteniber. 

Octobir.      N 

1 

ovembcr 

.Meau. 

Red  Rivci 

o 

69.26 
58.9 

o 
42.20 
47.1 

o 
21.  19 
31.7 

o 
40  S8 

Fort  SnulJing 

45  9 

AND   NORTHWEST    HKITISH    AMERICA. 


81 


November,  wliich  in  Minnesota  belongs  partly  to  autumn  and  partly  to  winter, 
belongs  entirely  to  the  winter  season  in  the  more  northern  latitude  of  Red  River. 
The  reader  will  see  that  the  fall  plunges  into  winter  almos»t  ^s  rapidly  an  the 
spring  emerges  from  it. 

Climate  of  the  Red  River  settlement  compared  with  Minnesota,  Wisconsin, 
and  Michigan. — The  following  table  will  illut;trate  the  climate  of  the  Red  River 
valley  as  compared  with  other  and  better  known  latitudes : 


Tahlc  of  monthly  means  of  Red  River  and  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  and  Michigan. 


Months. 


December 
January  -- 
February  . 

March 

April 

May 

Juilti 

July 

AugUKt 

September 

Octobtr  

November 


Red  Kiver.    |I"'ort  Snelling.i  Onvn  Buy. 


o 

8.  31 

10.  55 

1.71 

9.09 

39.83 

58.  46 
69.  10 
71.  16 
63.3 

59.  26 
42.  20 
21.19 


16.9 

13.7 

17.16 

31.4 

46.3 

59 

68.4 

73.4 

'0.  1 

6K.  9 

47.  1 

31.7 


20.  S 

18.9 

20 

31.3 

43.4 

55.8 

62.2 

71.5 

67.9 

57.2 

46.  5 

34.3 


Detroit. 


4 
3 


o 
26.9 
27 

26.6 
35. 
46. 
56 
65.6 
69.7 
67.  £ 
60 

47.7 
38.2 


Table  shotving  the  means  of  the  seasons  for  the  ahove  localities. 


Localities. 

Winter. 

Spring. 

Summer. 

Autumn. 

Annual  mean. 

Red  River .. . 

o 

6.85 
16.1 
19.9 
26.8 

o 
35.79 
45.6 
43.5 
45.9 

o 
67.  76 
70.6 
68.5 
67.6 

c 
40.  88 
45.9 
46 

48.7 

c 
34.  38 

Fort  Snellint; ... . 

44.  & 

Green  liav  _      . .. 

44.  C- 

Detroit ............ .. 

47.? 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  while  the  winter  curve  in  the  region  imwK'j&«*tely^ 
south  and  west  of  the  great  lakes  exhibits  an  extraordinnry  depression,  its  rich 
summer  measures  place  it  in  the  best  agricultural  belt  of  the  temjte«»re  zoik-. 

Buuntijul  summer  rains — The  Saskatchewan  valley  is  a  singular  exception 
to  the  almost  universal  sterility  which  characterizes  the  continent  west  of  the 
98th  meridian.  The  great  American  desert  di^rives  its  barr(>nness  from  the  lack 
of  rain. 

The'Winnipeg  basin,  on  the  oMlor  hiuid,  Ih  abundantly  supplied  with  moisture 
during  the  summer  months,  iillhiuigli  the  dryness  of  the  winter  months  reduces 
the  mean  annual  precipitation  below  that  of  points  lying  nearer  the  ocean. 

No  raiu-trtbU^!*  iiave  ever  been  constructed  for  any  portion  of  this  district, 
except  Ibr  the  eiwjilo  \w\v  1865,  at  the  Red  River  settlement.  The  following 
table  exhibit B  the  i'esutts  compared  with  Minnesota  and  Western  Oanndfl  i 


82 


RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   UNITED   STATES 
Rain  in  inches. 


1 

Months. 

Refl  Biver. 

St. 
19 

Paul, 
yenra. 

Toronto 

• 

!        1855. 

1 

1866. 

March 

April 

May 

JUDU.. ....... 

.65 
«.  80 
4 
6 
12 

12.5 
5 

.20 
3.  12 

.80   • 

.50 

.60 

1.  311 

2.  14 
3.17 
3.63 
4.11 

3.  18 
3.32 
1.35 
1.81 

.67 
.73 
.52 

1.62 
2.79 
4.78 
4.07 

July 

August 

Sentombt'i" .... ........................ 

3.24 
1.45 
6.  9 

October  

November 

December ......... ................ 

2.48 
4.8!) 
3.  80 

Januiiiv . -      --          

1.36 

Febrtiary  ,     .. 

.  97 

52.  17 

25.43 

36.35 

Se^oDS. 

Meand  for  the  scaKoos. 

Red  River. 

St.  Paul. 

Toronto. 

SDrintr . . ........ 

11.45 
30.5 
8.32 
1.90 

6.61 

10.92 

6.98 

1.92 

9.  19 

Summer  ......  ........................... 

8.76 

Autumn  ....  ............................. 

13.  27 

Winter  . ....... 

6.  13 

By  multiplying  the  figures  for  November,  December,  January,  Febiiiary,  and 
March  by  10,  tlie  result  will  show  the  fall  of  snow,  probably  the  actual  form  of 
the  precipitation  in  those  months. 

The  column  for  Red  River  exhibiting  the  moisture  of  a  single  year,  cannot  be 
adopted  as  the  unifonn  measure  of  precipitation  in  that  country;  but  if,  as 
Blodgott  informs  us,  a  difference  of  one-eighth  will  cover  the  range  of  any  non- 
periodic  variations  of  the  rain-fall  in  the  basin  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  (a 
rule  that  is  confirmed  by  a  comparison  of  the  Toronto  column  for  the  same 
year  with  the  means  for  sciveral  years  given  in  his  work,)  it  may  serve  as  an 
approximate  index  to  the  rain  standard  of  the  country.  The  excessive  rains 
of  that  summer,  which  has  no  equivalent  on  the  continent,  except  the  winter 
rain  of  the  Pacific,  is  probably  much  beyond  the  uniform  mean,  or  if,  regarded 
as  an  approximation  to  a  constant  terai,  may  be  accounted  for  by  its  contiguity 
to  Hudson  bay  and  Lake  Superior. 

A  region  liable  to  such  occasional  rains  cannot  certainly  be  deficient  in  mois- 
ture. The  reader  will  observe  the  great  preponderance  of  moisture  in  the  spring 
and  summer  months,  with  the  extreme  dryness  of  winter.  Converted  into  Rnow, 
the  whole  winter  fall  will  be  22  inches,  the  same  as  at  Saint  Paul,  while  that  of 
Canada  is  61  inches,  and  most  of  the  eastern  States  120  inches.  The  extreme 
lightness  of  the  winter  precipitation  characterizes  the  whoif^  of  the  plains  east 
of  the  Rocky  mountains,  without  reference  to  latitud  .  including  the  Saskatche- 
wan valley,  and  is  a  fact  of  great  importance  iu  determining  the  adaptability  of 
those  regiftus  for  railroads. 


AND   NORTHWEST   BRITLSH    AMERICA. 


8;^ 


We  have  no  measurements  of  the  local  precipitation  of  the  Saskatchewan 
valley,  but  the  {general  fact  of  a  comparatively  humid  summer,  with  an  autumn 
and  winter  of  extreme  dryness,  is  well  ascertained. 

The  rain  m(»asures  in  the  eh^vated  belt  of  country,  including  the  western  slope 
of  the  Missouri  plateau,  adjacent  to  the  Saskatchewan  valley  on  the  south,  Avill 
jiflFord  an  approximate  standard  for  the  latter.  The  following  table,  compiled 
from  Blodgett,  will  exhibit  the  rain-fall  in  the  whole  belt  across  the  continent, 
between  the  parallels  of  47'  iind  50°. 

Rain-table,  shoiving  the  mean  annual  precipitation  hctwccn  the  ilth  anil  50fh 

parallel. 

In  Vancouver's  island 05       inches. 

Western  slope  of  the  Rocky  mountains 30  "■ 

Eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  mountains 25  " 

Missouri  plateau  to  100th  meridian 20  "■ 

Between  Red  River  and  100th  meridian 25  " 

East  of  Red  River  to  Lak(!  Erie 30  to  34  " 

West  of  Lake  Erie  to  tin;  Atlantic 36  " 

Mean  fall  by  aeasons. 

Winter  fall.  Spring  fall.  Snjurner  fall.  Autntnn  fill. 

30  15  8  30 

5  6  6  6 

4  6                               6  4 
2                                 5                                6  ,4 

2  5  6  4 

3  to    5  6  to  8  10  6  to  10 

5  to  10  6  to  8  10  10 

A  fall  of  six  inches  is  given  by  Blodgett,  as  the  mean  for  the  simimer  in  this 
belt,  between  the  Rocky  mountains  and  Red  River.  This  is  amply  sufficient  for 
all  the  purposes  of  luxuriant  vegetation,  as  is  shown  in  southern  England,  Prussia, 
the  Crimea,  and  interior  Russia. 

But  according  to  all  analogies,  the  higher  summer  temperature  of  the  Saskatch- 
ewan valley  Avould  be  accompanied  by  a  corresponding  increase  of  humidity, 
and  this  fact  is  further  shoAvn  by  the  permanent  volume  of  its  streams  in  the 
summer  months. 


)  I 


RESULTS  OF  AGRICULTURE  AT  RED  RIVER  SETTLEMENT. 

For  all  the  great  northern  staples — wheat,  corn,  oats,  barley,  potatoes,  sheep, 
and  cattle — the  range  and  duration  of  the  summer  heats  form  the  decisive  condi- 
tion. The  data  we  have  furnished  prove  conclusively  the  climatic  adaptation  of 
the  Red  River  and  Saskatchewan  valleys  to  successful  agriculture. 

Indian  corn. — The  measures  of  heat,  as  we  have  befox'e  shown,  are  ample 
for  the  development  of  corn  in  this  district,  and,  in  fact,  some  varieties  thrive 
well  at  the  Red  River  settlement,  but  it  is  not  claimed  as  a  profitable  staple.  It 
is  cultivated  chiefly  in  small  garden  patches  for  the  green  ears,  but  the  cool 
nights  of  August  frequently  prevent  its  ripening,  except  in  the  driest  soils. 
Some  varieties  of  Canadian  corn,  requiring  a  growing  period  of  not  more  than 
seventy  days,  would,  however,  form  a  sure  crop  in  Red  River. 

Indian  com,  indeed,  according  to  Blodgett,  is  resti'icted  as  a  profitable  staple 
ic,  the  middle  region  of  the  Avest,  between  parallels  of  42°  and  43°. 

Wheat. — Wheat  is  the  leading  staple  of  the  upper  belt  of  the  temperate  zone. 
The  range  of  wheat  extends  from  the  herders  to  the  tropics  northward  of  the 
parallel  of  60°  north,  and  requires  a  minimum  mean  temperature  of  62^^  or  65° 
for  the  two  months  of  July  and  August.     The  whole  region  between  the  Red 


■  I 


84  KKLATIONS    HETWEEN    THE    IIMTEJ)    STATEH 

rivor  and  th«^  Rocky  iiiouiitains  is  orabrnced  betwet'ii  th«'  ini'an  Humiin'i'  tcnipor- 
aturcs  of  60°  and  70",  which  includt;  aleo  thr  niont  fertile  districts  of  New  Kng- 
land,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Michignn,  WisconBin,  and  Minniuota. 

between  theflo  isotheral  linc8,  extended  through  these  northwestern  vaUeys 
to  the  Pacific,  is  embraced  the  wheat  zone  of  the  continent.  "A  line,"  nays 
Blodgett,  •♦  drawn  from  Thunder  bay,  in  Lake  Superior,  northward,  to  the  Mac- 
kenzie, at  the  60th  parallel,  and  from  that  point  southwest  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
at  the  55th,  would  include  an  immense  region  adapted  to  wheat,  with  only  the 
local  exception  of  mountains  and  worthleHs  soils." 

Richardson  states  that  wheat  is  i'aised  with  profit  at  Fort  Ijiard,  latitude  60" 
5'  north,  and  longitude  122"  31'  west,  and  400  and  500  feet  above  the  sea. 

The  remarkabh'  law  has  been  observed  to  govern  the  development  of  the 
cultivated  plants,  that  they  yield  the  greatest  product  near  the  northernmost 
limits  of  their  possibh^  growth. 

This  principle,  announced  by  Forrey,  is  noticed  by  Blodgett,  as  especially 
applicable  to  wheat.  Central  Russia,  the  Baltic  districts,  the  British  islands, 
the  Canadas,  and  the  northern  parts  of  New  York  nnd  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
upper  belt  of  the  northwestern  States  lying  upon  th<'  cold  borders  of  the  wheat 
range,  are  the  seats  of  its  maximum  production. 

"  Probably,"  says  Blodgett,  "the  plains  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  the  Pacific 
coast  near  Puget's  sound  will  furnish  similar  districts.  This  a  priori  inference 
is  fully  borne  out  by  facts,  which  prove,  moreover,  that  the  basin  of  the  Winni- 
peg is  the  seat  of  the  greatest  average  wheat  product  on  this  continent,  and 
probably  in  the  world." 

The  limestone  substratum  of  this  region,  with  its  rich,  deep,  calcareous  loam 
and  retentive  clay  subsoil,  is  always  associated  with  a  rich  wheat  development, 
while  its  hot  and  humid  summers  fulfil  all  the  climatological  conditions  of  a  first 
rate  wheat  country. 

Instances  of  the  wheat  2»'oduct  of  Red  River. — "Our  soil,"  says  Donald  Gunn, 
an  int<^lligent  settler,  "is  extremely  fertile,  and  when  well  cultivated  yields  large 
crops  of  the  finest  wheat,  weighing  from  64  to  74  pounds  per  imperial  bushel. 
The  yield  per  acre  is  often  as  high  as  sixty  bushels,  and  has  been  occasionally 
known  to  exceed  that ;  and  when  the  average  returns  fall  below  forty  bushels  to 
the  acre,  we  are  ready  to  complain  of  small  returns.  Some  patches  have  been 
known  to  produce  twenty  successive  crops  of  wheat  Avithout  falloAV  or  manure." 

Professor  Hind,  in  his  ofiicial  report  to  the  Canadian  legislature,  sets  the 
average  product  at  forty  bushels  to  the  acre.  He  notices  a  product  of  fifty-six 
bushels  to  the  acre  in  the  only  instance  Avhen  a  measurement  was  made.  Wheat 
ripens  in  from  ninety  to  one  hundred  and  five  days.  It  is  entirely  free  from 
insects  or  disease  of  any  kind. 

A  comparison  of  the  yield  of  wheat  in  Red  River  with  the  best  Avheat  dis- 
tricts of  the  United  States  will  show  its  superiority  over  all  others. 

Red  River  produces  40  bushels  per  acre. 

Minnesota  produces  20  bushels  per  acre. 

Wisconsin  produces  14  bushels  per  acre, 

Pennsylvania  produces  15  bushels  per  acre. 

Massachusetts  produces  16  bushels  per  acre. 

Oats,  hurley,  rye,  potatoes. — The  whole  group  of  subordinate  cereals  follow 
wheat,  but  are  less  restricted  in  their  range,  going  five  degrees  beyond  wheat 
in  the  Mackenzie  valley  to  the  arctic  circle.  Barley  is  a  favorable  alternate  of 
wheat  at  Red  River  and  yields  enonnous  returns,  with  a  weight  per  bushel  of 
from  forty-eight  to  fifty-five  pounds.  Oats  thrive  well.  Potatoes  are  particu- 
larJy  distinguished  for  their  excellent  quality  and  large  yield. 

.    Hay. — "The  grasses,"  says  Forrey,  "are  proverbially  in  perfection  only  in 


ANIJ    NOliTllWKHT    lUiliiSH    AMERICA. 


85 


m 


north«'rii  ami  cool  ri'gioiiH.     It  is  iii  the  iiortli  hIoiu;  llmt  we  mm'  nnimalrt  from 
moadowH,  ami  an-  onnblecl  to  k('»'|)  tlu-m  tut  and  In  good  condition  with  gniin." 

In  noiu!  of  the  prairit;  districtK  of  North  Anu'rica  are  the  native  grasHehi  ho 

abundant  and  nutritiourt  arf  in  thcnc  northern  vaUeyn.    Thin  ia  sufficiently  provfid 

~fev  the  countlesH  lierdtt  of  buffalo  that  pasture  througliout  the  year  upon  its 

tdainH.  even  up  to  the  latitude  of  Peace  river — a  fact  which  ttuggeHtn  an  equivu- 
ent  capacity  lor  the  herding  of  domestic  catth'. 

The  Red  River  colony  in  1856  contained  0,253  hornt-d  cattle  and  2,799  horfles, 
which,  in  a  settlement  of  6,523  souls*,  exhibits  a  remarkable  proportion  of  stock. 
Horses  roam  during  the  summer  and  Avlnter  through  the  wood,  and  keep  fat 
without  housing  or  Jiay.  The  unlimited  pastoral  rangits  afforded  by  the  grassy 
savannas  of  Red  River,  with  its  dry  winter  climate,  seem  to  supply  favorable 
conditions  for  successful  shec})  husbandry.  This  is  confirmed  by  Donald  Guun. 
"Our  climate  and  soil,"  he  says,  "are  pt-culiarly  adapted  to  sheep.  There  are 
twenty-eight  years  since  their  introduction  into  the  settlement,  and  1  have  never 
seen  nor  heai-d  of  any  sickness  attacking  them.  Well-fed  <'wes  produce  fleeces 
varying  from  two  to  three  and  a  half  poimds.  Wethers  produce  fleeces  much 
heavier.  The  wool  is  of  good  quality,  though  not  very  fine."  An  inferior 
breed  of  sheep  would  not  be  likely  to  produce  fine  wool. 

PART  IV.  * 

THE    GOLD    DISCOVERIES    OP    NORTHWEST    BRITISH    AMERICA    AND    THEIR 

INFLUENCES. 

I  had  proposed  under  this  head  to  collate;  the  evidences  of  extraordinary  au- 
riferous wealth  in  British  Columbia,  but  as  the  summer  of  1862  may  greatly 
enlarge  the  public  knowledge  on  this  subject,  I  only  annex  a  general  statement 
of  present  developments. 

The  discoveries  of  1858,  in  the  lower  channi'l  of  Frazer  rivesr,  have  been 
pushed  to  the  headwaters  of  the  stream,  becoming  more  remarkable  in  the 
remote  interior,  close  up  to  the  central  range  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  This 
district,  which  now  attracts  so  much  attention,  is  known  as  the  "  Cariboo  Dig- 
gings," and  is  being  identified  upon  the  eastern  flank  of  the  mountains,  from 
which  issues  the  sources  of  the  Saskatchewan;  upon  the  Peace  river,  before  it 
passes  through  the  main  chain  from  the  Pacific  slope,  and  even  as  far  north  as 
latitude  57°,  in  the  rear  of  the  Russian  possessions  of  the  coast,  gold  fields  are 
known  to  exist  nearer  the  international  boundary,  particularly  on  the  upper 
Columbia  and  its  tributai'ies ;  but  the  bulk  of  testimony  is,  that  the  most  extra- 
ordinary discoveries  are  north  of  latitude  53°  and  in  the  average  longitude  of 
120°  west  of  Greenwich. 

Making  every  allowance  for  interested  and  exaggerated  statements,  there  re- 
main grounds  for  the  belief  that  the  individual  adventurer,  with  no  other  capital 
than  his  labor,  has  a  greater  chance  of  success  in  Northwest  America  than  in  any 
other  auriferious  district  of  the  world.  Hence,  the  exodus  of  population  to  the 
mines  of  British  Columbia  from  all  parts  of  the  Pacific  coast.  The  gorges  of 
the  Rocky  mountains  far  north  of  the  parallel  of  49°  will  be  speedily  occupied, 
and  commercial  relations  established  eastwardly  along  the  water-lines  of  the 
Saskatchewan  and  the  Red  River  of  the  North  with  the  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi  river  and  Lake  Superior. 

With  such  an  extension  of  population  to  the  interior  of  Northwest  British 
America,  the  coast  and  archipelago  of  islands  in  the  same  latitude  and  quite  to 
the  north  of  Vancouver's  island  will  also  be  colonized.  Already  explorations 
of  Queen  Charlotte's  islands  are  in  prognss,  and  the  Sacramento  of  the  (Jariboo 
mines — the  point  of  most  ready  supply  from  the  Pacific  coast — is  likely  to  be 
established  at  the  head  of  Bute's  inlet,  from  which  a  trail  pursues  the  old  route 
of  discovery  by  Sir  Alexander  Mackenzie. 


' 


80 


RELATIONS    llETWEEN   THE    UNITED   STATES 


Nor  will  tho  influoucn  of  thouc  northern  goM  diMcoverieA  hn  limited  to  tlio 
foregoing  rpHultM,  over  tho  nron  deHcribed  iit  length  in  the  foreg<»ing  pngtrt,  a.-* 
conHtituting  the  arable  nreas  of  Northwest  Uritinh  America.  The  centre  of 
mining  activity,  an  now  ascertained,  verges  npon  tho  valley  of  the  Mackenzi*' 
river,  a  stream  necinestered  from  the  world  by  it»  arctic  situation,  but  navigable 
from  the  Pacific  oc(>an  through  Behring'tt  straits  and  the  adjacent  open  Polar  nea 
for  an  eaual  period,  as  European  navigators  are  accustometl  to  frequent  Spits- 
bergen. Even  in  Russian  America,  tlu^  Yoncan,  which  falls  into  Behring's  sea 
south  of  the  straits  of  that  name,  is  a  river  of  magniticent  proportions.  So  far 
as  the  fur  trade  and  mineral  wealth  of  the  arctic  district  of  Northwest  America 
need  avenues  to  the  markets  of  the  world,  th«!y  are  thus  supplied. 

My  conclusion  is,  that,  under  the  potential  iuHiience  of  gold,  great  social  and 
industrial  chang<>s  are  soon  to  occur  in  Northwest  British  America,  inHueniing 
moat  materially  the  interests  of  the  United  States  in  that  direction. 

•    PART  V. 

ri;lation8  of  nor'J'hwj:kt  British  amkkica  iy)  the  united  sj'ates. 

For  the  present  the  relations  in  question  are  almost  exclusively  geographical, 
and  such  is  the  .tenor  of  the  present  (exposition.  Btit,  from  physical  soon  re- 
sults commercial  and  political  geography,  and  the  nature  of  the  latter  may  be 
anticipated. 

Central  British  America,  with  its  immense  capacity  for  the  production  of  grain 
and  cattle,  has  hitherto  been  approached  by  three  routes — through  Hudson's 
bay,  by  Lake  Superior,  and  over  the  plains  northwest  of  Saint  Paul,  Minnesota. 
The  last  named,  with  the  aid  of  steamboat  navigation  on  tin;  Red  River  of  the 
North,  is  now  admitted  to  be  the  most  convenient  route.  The  Hudson  Bay 
Company  have  mostly  relinquished  the  two  former  in  f.ivor  of  the  American 
communication. 

The  communication  through  Hudson  bay  is  of  dangerous  navigation,  is  lim- 
ited to  a  brief  season  of  the  year,  and  is  obstructed  by  the  necessity  of  numerous 
and  difficult  portages.  The  sanu*  remark  applies,  although  not  so  fully,  to  the 
route  through  Lake  Superior  and  thence  to  Fort  Garry. 

By  the  Minnesota  route,  soon  to  consist  of  raihvay  to  the  Red  river,  and 
steamers  by  Lake  Winnipeg  and  tlie  Saskatchewan  to  the  Rocky  mountains,  a 
great  natural  highway  exists,  so  advantageous  in  all  respects  as  to  suggest  an 
apprehension  among  English  writers  that  the  destiny  of  the  Selkirk  and  Sas- 
katchewan district  is  indissoluble  from  the  Mississippi  States. 

In  1862  the  railway  system  of  the  United  States  tenninates  at  La  Crossi^  in 
the  State  of  Wisconsin.  Thence  st(Mnn  navigation  to  Saint  Paul,  land  trans- 
portation for  250  miles  to  Georgetown,  on  the  Red  river,  and  steam  navigation 
to  Fort  Garry,  are  the  present  improved  methods  of  transit.  Beyond  the  Sel- 
kirk settlements  the  oared  bateau  and  the  wooden  cart  of  the  fur-trader  are  the 
rude  resources  of  the  inhabitants.  But  with  the  gold  movement  to  the  sources 
of  tie  Saskatchewan,  a  new  state  of  things  is  at  hand.  Steamers  once  placed 
on  Lake  Winnipeg  and  the  Saskatchewan,  an  emigrant  can  make  the  jouniey 
from  Toronto,  in  Canada,  to  the  Cariboo  mines  of  British  Columbia  in  thirty 
days,  and  at  less  expense  than  is  now  required  for  the  journey  inland  from  the 
mouth  of  Frazer  river  to  the  Cariboo  country. 

A  London  company  is  already  organized  to  establish  this  overland  route,  but 
the  overland  emigration  from  Canada  and  the  northwestern  Sttites  to  the  district 
in  question  is  safficient  in  volume  to  warrant  the  construction  of  the  requisite 
steamers  for  the  season  of  1863. 

It  would  be  an  instance  of  well-directed  legislation  for  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Parliament  of  England  to  unite  in  a  liberal  subsidy,  say 
of  $200,000  by  each  government,  for  the  trantsmisaion  of  a  weekly  mail  from 


t 


and 


AND    NORTHWEST   BRITIftll   AMERICA. 


87 


the  limitH  of  navigation  on  tin-  MirtHisHippi  river  and  tlic  Hritif«li  coast  of  Ljiko 
ftunorior  by  an  intrmational  roiito  to  tlio  ccntrrn  of  tht"  gold  di»trictH  of  Britirtli 
Columbia  and  Warthingtoii  Territory. 

Bimilar  rcM-iprocity  of  action  luw  hd  to  unity  of  intt!n;f«t8  and  Hontinunts  on 
the  oppoHJto  coasts  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  great  lakes,  itself  an  eft'ective 
bond  of  peac«.  Why  not  disarm  the  whole  frontier  of  the  north  by  constant 
multiplication  of  such  ties  and  guarantees  of  int<!rnational  concord?  The  pre- 
ceding exhibit  of  what  nature  has  proposed  in  Northwest  America  is  submitted 
with  the  hop*  and  confidence  that  man  will  dispose  of  the  future  relations  of 
.adjacent  and  homogeneous  communities  upon  a  finn  and  lasting  basis  of  natural 
interest  and  good  will. 

JAMES  W.  TAYLOR. 
Honorable  S.  P.  Ohask. 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  . 


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